Cristhian Stuani has claimed the first Carling Goal of the Month award.
The Middlesbrough forward's sensational long-range strike that opened the scoring in Middlesbrough's 2-1 win at Sunderland beat a shortlist of eight goals after the votes of a panel of experts and the public, who voted via the Carling Tap and website, were combined.
Stuani was handed his award by team-mate Stewart Downing, who recalled a feeling of surprise when the goal flew in.
"My initial reaction was, 'Don't shoot from there'!" Downing said. "We were counter-attacking and we were overloading them. But it was an unbelievable strike.
"It could be a goal of the season, never mind goal of the month.
"It's his best for us. As soon as it left his foot, everyone knew where it was going."
