A first-half goal for Middlesbrough was enough for the hosts to take all three points at the Riverside against Norwich City in the Sky Bet Championship.
The Canaries gave it everything until the end with Jovon Makama coming closest on more than one occassion but Hayden Hackney's goal was the difference on the day.
There were two changes to the side that beat Coventry City on Monday evening; Jacob Wright and Papa Amadou Diallo starting in place of the injured duo of Tony Springett and Pelle Mattsson.
The first effort came from the hosts, Hackney driving a low shot goalward but City's Vladan Kovačević was able to punch away from danger.
Middlesbrough continued to pile the pressure on the Canaries, Morgan Whittaker the next to fire inside the area.
A counter-attack for Philippe Clement's side set Diallo up to find Makama in prime position to shoot, which forced Boro stopper Sol Brynn to block behind for a corner.
Makama then forced the Reds' goalkeeper to make another diving save just minutes later.
A chaotic 60 seconds followed, neither Wright or Anis Ben Slimane able to find the the opener in a well-defended Middlesbrough box.
An error from the back by Norwich City had Middlesbrough in front after 17 minutes, Hackney picking up the ball from 25 yards out and firing beyond Kovačević into the top-right corner.
A free-kick taken by Kellen Fisher was later met by Ali Ahmed in the area, whose header flicked narrowly wide.
Ruairi McConville made a fantastic recovery to deny Whittaker on the right, who was firing toward goal for Middlesbrough just moments before the half-time whistle.
A dangerous ball flashed across goal by Middlesbrough's Tommy Conway was unable to find any red shirts in the Norwich box just a minute after the restart.
Whittaker then put an effort wide from inside the six-yard box.
The Canaries' best chance of the second half fell to Makama just inside the area again, but the forward skied his effort with just over 10 minutes to play.
A fantastic ball over the top from substitute Matěj Jurásek did beat Middlesbrough's rearguard to find Makama but he was denied by two defenders on his heels in the area for the final chance of the game.
Norwich City are next in action on Saturday, February 7, when they will host Blackburn Rovers at Carrow Road.
Middlesbrough: Brynn; Brittain (Fry 71), Ayling, Malanda, Targett; McGree (Gilbert 62), Morris; Whittaker (Strelec 71), Browne, Hackney (C); Conway (Sarmiento 84).
Unused subs: McLaughlin, Munroe, Nypan, Silvera, Hansen.
Goals: Hackney (17)
Bookings: Strelec (72), Morris (80)
Norwich City: Kovačević; Fisher, McConville, Córdoba, Chrisene; McLean (C), Wright (Schwartau 59); Slimane, Diallo (Kvistgaarden 59), Ahmed (Jurásek 82); Makama.
Unused subs: Grimshaw, Stacey, Darling, Gibbs, Marcondes, Mundle-Smith.
Bookings: Kovačević (56), Slimane (80)
HT: 1-0
FT: 1-0
Venue: Riverside Stadium
Referee: Ben Toner
Attendance: 28,616