Middlesbrough 0 Brighton & Hove Albion 1
Glenn Murray ended a difficult week by firing Albion into the FA Cup 5th round.
Markus Suttner’s last-minute cross was half cleared by the Middlesbrough defence and rebounded back off Murray and into the net.
Liam Rosenior captained the Seagulls as a majority of the fringe squad enjoyed a run out.
Adama Traoré had some good chances for Boro in the first half.
But it was the introduction of Jose Izquierdo and Murray after the break – and that bit of Premier League class – that swung it for the Seagulls.
Ex-England winger Stuart Downing had a chance to grab an equaliser for Boro with seconds left.
But the Seagulls held on to avenge their disappointment in May 2016 when a draw at Riverside meant Boro were promoted to the Premier League as runners up. Albion missed out on goal difference and were thwarted in the play-offs.
Brighton now march on to the 5th round, with 16 teams vying for a place in the quarter-finals.
The draw will take place during the One Show on BBC One on Monday evening (29 January). The programme starts at 7pm, with the draw expected to get under way at about 7.20pm.
The Seagulls travel to St Mary’s on Wednesday (31 January) to take on Southampton and, according to various rumours, may have Leonardo Ulloa back in their squad.