Neil Warnock enjoyed a perfect return to management as Middlesbrough swept aside fellow Sky Bet Championship strugglers Stoke.
The evergreen Warnock – rapidly approaching 1,500 games as a manager – watched on as a goal in each half helped lift Boro above the Potters in the table and eased them two points clear of the drop zone.
A second win in 13 games was thoroughly deserved in the first match since Jonathan Woodgate’s sacking, while Stoke are now just a single point above the bottom three.
Fletcher rose superbly to glance home a well-directed header as he met Patrick Roberts’ inswinging free-kick.
Boro’s number 11 scored his 11th goal of the season in what proved to be an impressive personal first-half performance alongside Britt Assombalonga.
At the other end, Fletcher headed another Roberts free-kick over the crossbar, while the hosts’ best chance came after 21 minutes.
Assombalonga also went close shortly before Boro’s breakthrough when his drilled free-kick from 22 yards missed the target by a couple of feet.
Michael O’Neill’s men ought to have levelled seconds after the restart.
Tyrese Campbell’s low cross into the six-yard box seemed to evade everyone before McClean eventually side-footed straight at Stojanovic from close in.
The woodwork got in the way in the 50th minute as McClean’s downward header from Tommy Smith’s deep cross struck the base of a post.
Substitute Marcus Tavernier pounced with his first intervention, taking down Jonny Howson’s long pass before firing home left-footed past Jack Butland from just outside the box.
Stoke’s best chance of a consolation fell to sub Lee Gregory, who fired straight at the keeper.
