Led by Adi Viveash, Harry Watling and Craig Liddle, Boro‘s Teessiders rose to the occasion as Dael Fry and Hayden Hackney scored the first half goals against the in-form Blues.

Boro’s fans took aim at the departing Edwards with a banner and chants but then roared the players on to a crucial home victory, bringing to an end a three-match winless run.

Here are the main talking points from the game:

BORO FANS SEND CLEAR MESSAGE

The message from Boro’s fans couldn’t have been clearer.

Before a string of chants aimed at Rob Edwards, up went a banner in the South Stand quoting the soon to be former head coach: “The fans deserve to see people who really want to be here”.

The chants didn’t just come from a pocket of supporters, rather all four stands, an emphatic and united show of anger at how the situation had played out this week.

Another banner went up in the second half. “Rob Edwards you rat,” it read.

And another at full-time: “Unity is our strength. We move forward together”.

Just two hours before kick-off, Boro confirmed they had reluctantly given Edwards permission to speak to Wolves. Terms between Boro and the Premier League club have been agreed. Providing personal terms are now agreed between Edwards and Wolves, the 42-year-old will take charge at Molineux and walk-out on Boro just four-and-a-bit months into a three year contract.

Edwards has emotional ties with Wolves, having played and coached there in the past, and his family live in the Midlands. Boro fans understand that. But what has been hard for supporters to stomach is the fact the head coach has spent the last few months stressing the importance of unity, togetherness and describing Boro as a “family”.

As Edwards said and the banner read: “The fans deserve to see people who really want to be here.”

At full-time, Boro’s players did a lap of celebration before finishing at the South Stand, where Dael Fry pushed Viveash forward. The stand-in boss fist pumped to the supporters before pointing to the badge, and then turned and embraced Hackney. Aidan Morris then urged Watling forward for the next fist pump celebration.

TEESSIDERS STAND TALL

Teesside 2-1 Birmingham.

How fitting that on a day when Boro – Teesside – needed to come together after this week’s events it was the homegrown heroes who stepped up. Fry scored the opener, Hackney put Boro back ahead after Demarai Gray’s leveller and Sol Brynn made some crucial saves in both halves. Little wonder the supporters chanted with such pride.

Nobody can ever question the Boro commitment of Fry.

In an interview with the Northern Echo earlier this year, the Teessider told of why it’s never ever crossed his mind to leave his boyhood club.

“I just feel like I’m from Middlesbrough, all my family are from here, I love it here,” he said.

Perhaps Fry was a victim of his own desperation and desire to put the club he loves first. The centre-half missed the midweek Leicester draw with a knock, but with Alfie Jones suspended for Saturday’s game and George Edmundson missing out, Boro would have been absent of any fit centre-halves had Fry not played.

But it was too soon, for the defender lasted just 26 minutes, forcing Viveash and Boro into a rethink.

They were on the ropes after that forced change and Birmingham’s controversial equaliser but Hackney’s flick to turn in Aidan Morris’s shot was instinctive and clever.

It’s no secret that Hackney could have left the club in the summer but after turning down Ipswich the Teessider has played a starring role in the early months of the season.

The next boss will be thrilled and fortunate to inherit a squad containing three quality and crucial homegrown stars.

DEFENSIVE CONCERNS

Charlotte FC’s MLS play-off campaign ended overnight when they lost their decider against New York City. If only Adilson Malanda could link up with Boro immediately rather than in January. For Boro are desperate for fit and available central defenders.

Viveash and the interim coaching team had to tinker and adapt throughout as they dealt with a string of setbacks.

After Fry was forced off and Sammy Silvera introduced, Boro moved to a back three of Alan Browne, Luke Ayling and Matt Targett – a centre-midfielder, a right-back and a left-back. Then, in the second half, came a further blow when Targett had to be replaced and George McCormick, the rookie left-back, joined the back three.

There was, inevitably, some nervous moments in the final half an hour or so, but it’s of enormous credit to the makeshift backline that they managed to stand firm and keep out a Birmingham side that headed for the Riverside on the back of back-to-back 4-0 wins.

Thankfully Jones’ suspension is only one-match and Boro now have a fortnight stoppage, which will give Fry and Edmundson the chance to recover from their latest setbacks.

WHAT A POSITION AND WHAT AN OPPORTUNITY

Taking everything into account, this was undoubtedly Boro’s best and biggest win of the season so far.

Had Boro not picked up three points, they’d have gone into the international break having lost their manager and their early season momentum. There’d have been a cloud of uncertainty over the Riverside.

But Boro’s players showed their character to recover from a challenging week to bring their three-game winless stretch to an end and will now go into the stoppage  back in the automatic promotion places.

What a job this is for the next boss. A big club, a squad packed with quality, a supportive owner, a team challenging at the right end of the table. It’s a rare and brilliant opportunity.