Former Middlesbrough trainee Chris Brunt came back to haunt his old club as Coca-Cola Championship leaders West Brom handed out a thrashing at the Riverside.

The 25-year-old's deflected free-kick put the Baggies in front after 17 minutes before pouncing on a poor clearance from Danny Coyne and scoring his second from 50 yards just after the half-hour mark.

Youssouf Mulumbu's header made it 3-0 before half-time and late strikes from Roman Bednar and Jerome Thomas compounded Middlesbrough's misery as Roberto Di Matteo's side wrapped up a convincing victory.

Middlesbrough made a good start and Rhys Williams fizzed a 30-yard strike just over before Jeremie Aliadiere had a shot blocked by Brunt.

Brunt looked lively for the visitors and found space in the area but his shot was charged down by the alert Sean St. Ledger who was making his home debut.

However there was nothing the Middlesbrough defence could do to stop Brunt putting West Brom in front with 17 minutes gone.

Williams fouled Luke Moore and Brunt scored from the resulting free-kick following a wicked deflection leaving goalkeeper Coyne with no chance.

In respect to his former club Brunt muted his celebrations but the home supporters were cursing the Northern Irishman when he doubled the Baggies' lead just after the half hour mark.

Scott Carson's long punt upfield caught the Boro defence out and with Graham Dorrans chasing down, Coyne cleared the ball straight into the path of Brunt who looped the ball over him superbly from fully 50 yards.

Moments later Jeremie Aliadiere was forced off injured and Caleb Folan came on to make his Middlesbrough debut but he barely had opportunity to make an impact before West Brom made it 3-0 three minutes before half-time.

Dorrans found space on the right of the penalty area and crossed for Mulumbu who planted a header over Coyne.

The Middlesbrough fans could barely believe what they were seeing and things looked like getting worse after the break as Brunt, in search of his hat-trick, fired wide from the edge of the box.

Jerome Thomas was causing the home defence problems and his cross found Brunt who was once again off target.

Boro were barely troubling West Brom and their best moment of the second half came when Adam Johnson's free-kick was met by St .Ledger but Carson comfortably dealt with the header.

With eight minutes remaining the Baggies grabbed their fourth when Dorrans' corner was cleared by Jonathan Grounds straight into the path of Roman Bednar who reacted quickly and finished well from the edge of the box.

Things went from bad to worse for Middlesbrough in the final minute of normal time when Thomas pounced inside the box to fire home.

Teams:

Middlesbrough Coyne, McMahon, Wheater, St. Ledger, Grounds,Yeates, Williams, Arca (Digard 57), Adam Johnson,Emnes (Lita 67), Aliadiere (Folan 32).

Subs Not Used: Jones, Hoyte, Hines, Bennett.

Booked: Williams, Arca.

West Brom Carson, Zuiverloon, Martis, Olsson,Mattock (Barnett 73), Brunt (Wood 83), Dorrans, Mulumbu,Thomas, Bednar, Moore (Koren 64).

Subs Not Used: Kiely, Cox, Reid, Teixeira.

Booked: Thomas, Olsson, Mattock, Dorrans, Martis.

Goals: Brunt 17, 31, Mulumbu 42, Bednar 82, Thomas 89.

Att: 22,725

Ref: Trevor Kettle (Rutland).