And that was no bad thing.
Because for a side that made a habit of turning dominance into self destruction last season, how pleasing it was to see Boro manage the game so well after Dael Fry headed in what turned out to be the winner six minutes into the second half.
From that moment onwards, Boro controlled the game calmly in and out of possession. There was no panic, no real stress and no save for goalkeeper Sol Brynn to make.
Even when the board went up to indicate six minutes of stoppage time, there was no nervousness on the pitch
There were no real chances for Boro to extend their lead either, but that won’t concern Rob Edwards, for he knows his side are very much a work in progress, and will continue to develop and improve with each game.
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But game-management proved to be an enemy of Middlesbrough’s last season. How often were coaches, players and fans left wondering how three points had turned into one or even none. Even with their obvious issues, it was a campaign of what could or should have been.
That was something the new coaching staff were well aware of.
And while certain tactical elements that were key to Boro’s preparations and drilled home in Edwards’ half-time message were undoubtedly major contributing factors to the Swansea success, there’s also been a focus on adding steel to this side this summer, both in terms of personnel and mindset.
“We would all love it to be 4-0 but the reality is the Championship is tough and a lot of the games are going to be fine margins,” said Edwards.
“We came out the right side of it.
“What I would say is in the second half Sol hasn’t had a save to make. We were comfortable in and out of possession, controlling the game in the second half.
“We made it pretty predictable from their point of view. We kept the centre-backs straight so the ball was a channel ball. Then we landed on the duels and won the duels and took control.”
Opposition predictability is welcome, as managers found out all too often last season when they faced Boro. This was a welcome role reversal.
“Harry [Watling, first team coach] made a very good point as the staff were talking just then,” added Edwards.
“You look at how many times their strikers have touched the ball and it’s very little. They were forced to go round the side and down the channels a lot, so their wingers touch the ball a lot, but then get very little to their number nines.
“We managed to keep them quiet – just the one chance from the header in the first half. Other than that, really, I thought we managed to restrict them. Then we did play some good stuff at times, but there will be more to come on that side.”
Boro’s squad will be improved between now and the transfer deadline and Edwards and the recruitment team know it needs to be. A striker will arrive to provide much-needed support and competition for Tommy Conway, as will a left wing-back, though resurgent Sammy Silvera again impressed on Saturday after playing his way back into the first team fold over the summer against the odds.
It also increasingly feels like a swift resolution to the Rav ven Berg situation would suit all concerned, with Edwards deciding it was best the Dutchman was left out of the squad amid the uncertainty surrounding his future. But FC Koln or any other interested clubs are going to be successful in signing the 21-year-old, they need to match Boro’s valuation, something which hasn’t yet happened this summer.
In van den Berg’s absence, Edwards opted for Luke Ayling rather than Neto Borges as the third central defender alongside Fry and new signing Alfie Jones, and the former Leeds man played a key role in the clean sheet.
Boro and their coaching team were also rewarded for something else that was identified as a summer training ground priority.
Boro were joint bottom of the Championship table for goals scored from set-pieces last season, with just eight. So when Edwards – whose Luton side scored 16 goals from dead ball situations in their promotion winning campaign – and his team sat down and picked out areas for Boro improvement, it’s no surprise that was at the forefront of their thinking.
Fry’s headed winner from Morgan Whittaker’s corner was identical to his pre-season goal at Mansfield.
What a day it turned out to be for Fry – captain and matchwinner, and, for the Teessider, hopefully the start of a season in which he stays fit and can rediscover that consistent form that made him one of the Championship’s best central defenders in the past.
This will have meant a lot to Fry, and it certainly did to Edwards, who led his players on a full lap around the pitch at full-time before reaching the South Stand and Red Faction, who he’d met for a beer and a chat five days earlier, and orchestrated the roars with a string of emotional and passionate fist-pumps.
“It’s what dreams are made of. I loved it,” said Edwards at full-time.
“It was a proud day for me, and a really good day for us. A lot of emotions came pouring out at the end.”
