Scott McDonald capitalised on a goalkeeping error to enable promotion-chasing Middlesbrough to clinch a narrow win against Brighton.

Boro now lie fourth in the Championship, just five points behind leaders Southampton.

McDonald converted from close range when visiting keeper Casper Ankergren, under no pressure, spilled a left-wing cross from Joe Bennett.

Brighton sit just outside the play-offs after their first defeat in four games.

But they could have been in front early on when Craig Noone fired narrowly wide, before Kazenga LuaLua hit the left-hand post from 25 yards.

The home side had the lead soon after when Ankergren failed to deal with a seemingly innocuous cross and Middlesbrough continued to enjoy the upper hand in the first half. But they were dealt a blow when striker Marouane Zemmama limped off to be replaced by Malaury Martin.

The visitors began the second period with renewed energy and Gordon Greer should have done better when heading over from a LuaLua corner.

Matthew Bates then wasted a golden opportunity to double Boro's lead in the 53rd minute, volleying over the bar from 10 yards out from Tony McMahon's free-kick.

Boro continued to press forward but they were unable to find a second goal as substitute Bart Ogbeche and McDonald went close before the full time.

Lineup, Bookings (8) & Substitutions (6)

Middlesbrough

  • 01 Steele
  • 03 Bennett
  • 04 Bates
  • 14 Williams
  • 29 McMahon Booked
  • 05 Zemmama (Martin - 32' )
  • 10 Bailey
  • 17 Robson Booked (Thomson - 78' )
  • 18 Arca
  • 07 McDonald
  • 09 Emnes (Ogbeche - 73' Booked )

Substitutes

  • 02 Hoyte
  • 08 Thomson
  • 22 Martin
  • 38 Haroun
  • 16 Ogbeche

Brighton & Hove Albion

  • 16 Ankergren
  • 03 Greer
  • 05 Dunk
  • 20 Vincelot Booked
  • 27 Taricco Booked
  • 36 Jara Booked
  • 10 Sparrow (Buckley - 63' )
  • 11 Noone Booked (Paynter - 74' )
  • 25 LuaLua Booked
  • 26 Bridcutt
  • 12 Mackail-Smith (Barnes - 74' )

Substitutes

  • 01 Brezovan
  • 06 El-Abd
  • 30 Buckley
  • 09 Barnes
  • 13 Paynter
Ref: Naylor
Att: 16,594

Match Stats

Shots

13 6

On target

3 1

Corners

8 2

Fouls

17 13

Live Text Commentary

95:21

The final whistle goes and the game is over.

90:00 +4:37 Booking

Booking Romain Vincelot receives a yellow card for unsporting behaviour.

90:00 +3:04

Scott McDonald takes a shot. Casper Ankergren makes a save. Shot on goal by Scott McDonald from just inside the area goes over the target.

90:00 +2:19

Unfair challenge on Nicky Bailey by Billy Paynter results in a free kick. Rhys Williams takes the free kick.

90:00 +1:22

Short corner taken by Tony McMahon from the right by-line.

89:59

A cross is delivered by Will Buckley, Header from close in by Ashley Barnes misses to the left of the target.

88:33

The referee blows for offside. Jason Steele takes the direct free kick.

86:54

Matthew Bates fouled by Billy Paynter, the ref awards a free kick. Jason Steele takes the free kick.

86:35

Free kick awarded for a foul by Nicky Bailey on Will Buckley. Will Buckley takes the direct free kick.

85:37 Booking

Booking The referee shows Bart Ogbeche a yellow card for unsporting behaviour.

84:44

Free kick awarded for a foul by Julio Arca on Gonzalo Jara Reyes. Free kick taken by Gonzalo Jara Reyes. Free kick awarded for a foul by Bart Ogbeche on Gonzalo Jara Reyes. Gonzalo Jara Reyes takes the free kick.

84:24

Matthew Bates has an effort at goal from outside the area which goes wide left of the target.

83:13

Free kick awarded for a foul by Matthew Bates on Ashley Barnes. Mauricio Taricco crosses the ball in from the free kick, clearance by Matthew Bates.

81:00

Romain Vincelot concedes a free kick for a foul on Nicky Bailey. Jason Steele takes the free kick.

78:35

Close range header by Ashley Barnes goes wide of the left-hand post.

77:19 Substitution

Substitution Barry Robson leaves the field to be replaced by Kevin Thomson.

75:04

Kazenga LuaLua produces a cross, Julio Arca makes a clearance.

73:04 Substitution

Substitution Ashley Barnes comes on in place of Craig Mackail-Smith.

73:04 Substitution

Substitution Billy Paynter replaces Craig Noone.

72:29 Substitution

Substitution Bart Ogbeche replaces Marvin Emnes.

69:20

The ball is swung over by Scott McDonald, clearance made by Casper Ankergren.

68:36

Corner taken by Tony McMahon, clearance by Mauricio Taricco.

68:01 Booking

Booking Booking for Gonzalo Jara Reyes for unsporting behaviour.

67:42

Scott McDonald delivers the ball, Barry Robson fouled by Gonzalo Jara Reyes, the ref awards a free kick. Free kick taken by Tony McMahon.

65:40

Effort on goal by Matthew Bates from long range goes harmlessly over the bar.

64:36

Kazenga LuaLua sends in a cross.

64:11

Unfair challenge on Craig Noone by Barry Robson results in a free kick. Liam Bridcutt takes the direct free kick.

63:23

Free kick awarded for an unfair challenge on Kazenga LuaLua by Barry Robson. Liam Bridcutt takes the direct free kick.

62:26 Substitution

Substitution (Brighton) makes a substitution, with Will Buckley coming on for Matthew Sparrow.

61:26

Inswinging corner taken by Barry Robson from the right by-line, clearance made by Romain Vincelot.

60:38

Craig Mackail-Smith takes a shot. Save by Jason Steele.

59:41

Gonzalo Jara Reyes challenges Barry Robson unfairly and gives away a free kick. Tony McMahon delivers the ball from the free kick right-footed from left wing, Casper Ankergren makes a save.

59:01

Marvin Emnes takes a shot.

57:38

Scott McDonald has an effort at goal from just inside the box that misses to the left of the goal.

56:36

Unfair challenge on Barry Robson by Matthew Sparrow results in a free kick. Shot comes in from Tony McMahon from the free kick, save by Casper Ankergren.

55:32

Malaury Martin has a shot and went wide left of the target.

54:33

Kazenga LuaLua crosses the ball.

52:10

Gordon Greer gives away a free kick for an unfair challenge on Scott McDonald. Tony McMahon takes the direct free kick, Close range strike by Matthew Bates goes over the bar.

51:24 Booking

Booking Booking for Mauricio Taricco for unsporting behaviour.

51:15

Mauricio Taricco gives away a free kick for an unfair challenge on Marvin Emnes. Matthew Bates takes the direct free kick.

50:34

Direct free kick taken by Mauricio Taricco.

50:34 Booking

Booking Tony McMahon receives a yellow card.

50:08

Tony McMahon concedes a free kick for a foul on Matthew Sparrow.

49:13

Mauricio Taricco challenges Marvin Emnes unfairly and gives away a free kick. Free kick taken by Nicky Bailey.

47:37

Free kick awarded for a foul by Barry Robson on Mauricio Taricco. Direct free kick taken by Mauricio Taricco.

47:00

Free kick awarded for an unfair challenge on Tony McMahon by Kazenga LuaLua. Jason Steele takes the free kick.

45:50

Inswinging corner taken right-footed by Kazenga LuaLua.

45:01

The referee starts the second half.

45:00 +2:19

The half-time whistle blows.

45:00 +1:01

Craig Mackail-Smith takes a shot.

44:24

Free kick awarded for a foul by Scott McDonald on Mauricio Taricco. Free kick taken by Lewis Dunk.

44:24

Scott McDonald challenges Mauricio Taricco unfairly and gives away a free kick. Casper Ankergren takes the direct free kick.

41:39

Direct effort from the free kick comes in from Malaury Martin.

41:39 Booking

Booking Booking for Craig Noone for unsporting behaviour.

41:30

Craig Noone gives away a free kick for an unfair challenge on Scott McDonald.

39:26

Unfair challenge on Mauricio Taricco by Scott McDonald results in a free kick. Free kick taken by Mauricio Taricco.

36:58

Corner taken by Kazenga LuaLua.

35:48

The assistant referee signals for offside against Craig Mackail-Smith. Free kick taken by Jason Steele.

33:02

The free kick is delivered right-footed by Kazenga LuaLua from left wing, save made by Jason Steele.

33:02 Booking

Booking The referee cautions Barry Robson for unsporting behaviour.

32:52

Kazenga LuaLua fouled by Barry Robson, the ref awards a free kick.

31:13

Direct free kick taken by Lewis Dunk.

31:13 Substitution

Substitution Merouane Zemmama goes off and Malaury Martin comes on.

31:13

Unfair challenge on Mauricio Taricco by Marvin Emnes results in a free kick.

28:49

Centre by Joe Bennett.

27:26

Barry Robson has an effort at goal from just inside the box that misses to the left of the goal.

24:37

Inswinging corner taken from the left by-line by Tony McMahon, Lewis Dunk makes a clearance.

23:29 Booking

Booking Kazenga LuaLua goes into the referee's book.

22:22

Free kick awarded for a foul by Tony McMahon on Matthew Sparrow. Free kick crossed right-footed by Liam Bridcutt from left channel, Matthew Bates makes a clearance. Scott McDonald fouled by Kazenga LuaLua, the ref awards a free kick. Jason Steele takes the direct free kick.

20:59

Assist on the goal came from Joe Bennett.

20:59 Goal scored

Goal - Scott McDonald - Middlesbro 1 - 0 Brighton Scott McDonald grabs a goal from close in to the bottom left corner of the goal. Middlesbrough 1-0 Brighton.

19:07

Foul by Tony McMahon on Kazenga LuaLua, free kick awarded. Mauricio Taricco takes the direct free kick.

16:41

Free kick awarded for a foul by Joe Bennett on Craig Noone. Direct free kick taken by Gonzalo Jara Reyes.

15:29

The ball is delivered by Barry Robson, Gordon Greer manages to make a clearance.

13:53

A cross is delivered by Scott McDonald, blocked by Liam Bridcutt.

13:53

The ball is swung over by Scott McDonald, Kazenga LuaLua gets a block in.

13:20

Barry Robson fouled by Liam Bridcutt, the ref awards a free kick. Free kick taken by Jason Steele.

13:10

The ball is crossed by Kazenga LuaLua, Rhys Williams manages to make a clearance.

11:13

Barry Robson challenges Craig Mackail-Smith unfairly and gives away a free kick. Free kick taken by Liam Bridcutt, Kazenga LuaLua has a shot on goal from outside the area which misses left.

10:18

Craig Noone has an effort at goal from outside the box which goes wide right of the target.

9:12

Handball decision goes against Scott McDonald. Free kick taken by Casper Ankergren.

8:35

Barry Robson takes the inswinging corner, Mauricio Taricco manages to make a clearance.

7:04

Inswinging corner taken by Barry Robson from the right by-line. Inswinging corner taken by Barry Robson.

6:38

Corner taken left-footed by Barry Robson from the right by-line, save made by Casper Ankergren.

5:12

Merouane Zemmama produces a right-footed shot from the edge of the area and misses to the left of the target.

0:13

Liam Bridcutt fouled by Barry Robson, the ref awards a free kick. Gordon Greer takes the direct free kick.

0:00

The ref blows the whistle to begin the match.

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