It wasn't the first time Boro had attempted a set-piece straight from the training ground this season.
The others haven't quite come off but the well-rehearsed play in the last minute against Charlton was a pat on the back for persistence.
And it was sublime. Clayton went looking for the short corner that he was never interested in, taking two defenders with him and leaving man of the moment Lee Tomlin lurking dangerously on the edge.
One perfectly weighted cross, one perfectly timed swing of the right boot. Tomlin's superb volley was exactly what January's Championship player of the month deserved after 45 minutes of terrorising Charlton's sorry back-line.
Manager of the Month curse, they say.
Well concerns about that were banished and Boro's No.10 certainly showed no signs of being weighed down by the gong he was deservedly awarded last week.
His audacious last minute goal at the Riverside on Saturday shouldn't have come as a surprise. The gorgeous spin-and-shot movement that Vincent Kompany was helpless to prevent showed Tomlin isn't afraid of trying something out of the ordinary.
And if his busy night of battering the keypad on Deadline Day wasn't enough of an indication as to Tomlin's confidence levels at the minute then that second half performance against the Addicks certainly was.
The 26-year-old twisted and turned his way past Charlton's baffled defenders, slid in more than one through ball that would have slipped easily through the eye of a needle and got the goal to cap off his performance - his fourth strike in the last four league games.
That goal and his assist for Jelle Vossen was the icing on the cake but only told half the story.
Fifty-seven passes, 81% of which were accurate. Five chances created and more than 70% of his duels won.
How Charlton's players would have hoped to see the fourth official hold up the number 10 when AK introduced Adam Forshaw and Adam Reach in the 72nd minute.
Tomlin has almost certainly etched himself into the team-sheet for the trip to the Emirates next week. Impressive considering the forward appeared to find himself ever so briefly out of favour at the end of December and start of January, starting just one of four league games.
But now Tomlin needs to build on a sparkling month. He needs to prove it's no flash in the pan.
The former Peterborough schemer has demonstrated over the past year that he possesses the ability to play in the Premier League. But he's not the only Championship player who could step up a level on his day.
What separates many who look a cut above in the second tier but fail to cut it at the top level is consistency.
Fleeting glances of magic here and there but the inability to maintain that level week in, week out.
That's not to say Tomlin would be an addition to that category. Judging by his performances - particularly in the second half - against both Manchester City and Charlton, Tomlin is capable of causing any team problems at any level.
But he's a notable absentee from the list of players with the most assists in the Championship and those who've created the most chances.
Action Images 
Lee Tomlin celebrates scoring against Charlton
Skipper Grant Leadbitter is fourth on both lists boasting seven assists and having created a hugely impressive 70 chances. For the record, Jacob Butterfield has 73 to his name.
The 1,540 passes Boro's esteemed on-the-pitch leader has made is also up there with the league's best.
Stats can often be misleading and Tomlin has proved over the past few weeks that on his day he would stroll into any team in the league.
Indeed, if he performs like he did against Charlton for the rest of February then his January player of the month gong could well be shuffled down the mantelpiece to make way for another one.
Tomlin scored four goals in his first 25 appearances this season. He's added four more in his last four league games.
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Lee Tomlin in action for Boro at Man City
If Tomlin lacked any belief before he should have it in abundance now.
"I told Lee one year ago that he is a very good player," said Karanka after the forward was named player of the month.
"He's shown everyone what he is capable of.
"When he has the ball something can happen. He is an important player for us."
If Tomlin adds consistency to his class and recent contribution he'll undoubtedly prove to be one of Boro's pivotal performers in the promotion run-in.
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