Play-off chasing duo Brighton and Middlesbrough shared the points in an entertaining draw at the Amex.

Brighton's Adam El-Abd had hit the post before Marvin Emnes flicked in Barry Robson's corner at the other end.

Lukas Jutkiewicz came within a post's width of doubling the lead, before Inigo Calderon met Kazenga LuaLua's corner with a powerful header to level.

Jason Steele palmed away Sam Vokes' header to guarantee a point for Boro, who have now not won in six games.

Tony Mowbray's side were fortunate not to be behind in the first half as Vicente's deflected free-kick dropped just wide and El-Abd hit the woodwork from Will Buckley's corner.

But Emnes caught the previously impressive Brighton goalkeeper Peter Brezovan out of position with a deft touch at the near post to grab the opener.

Brighton got the goal their performance deserved, however, when Calderon planted home a header at the far post.

Both goalkeepers were kept busy until the final whistle but neither side could conjure a winner.

Brighton boss Guy Poyet: "It was a great game of football, very difficult for both teams and it shows we can compete.

"The longer we stay in the top six the better. There were nerves all over the place, but we are still in there so we can't complain.

"It shows how far Brighton have come and that is the key. We need better performances away from home but we are there. We deserve to be in the top six.

"We are getting closer and the players are coping well. We were not dominant in this game, but we had the best chances and competed against a very good team."

Middlesbrough manager Tony Mowbray told BBC Radio Tees:

"With four weeks to go it is very tight obviously, but we have to keep going.

"We've drawn four in a row now and it's a very tight league. With six games to go, we'll have to win two or three of them to cement a place in the play-offs.

"But credit to Brighton. Their psychology can only benefit football. Brighton play in a similar way to how Swansea played in the Championship last season."

Lineup, Bookings (6) & Substitutions (4)

Brighton

  • 01 Brezovan
  • 02 Mattock
  • 03 Greer
  • 06 El-Abd
  • 14 Calderon
  • 08 Navarro
  • 15 Vicente
  • 26 Bridcutt Booked
  • 30 Buckley (LuaLua - 68' Booked )
  • 09 Barnes (Mackail-Smith - 68' )
  • 24 Vokes

Substitutes

  • 16 Ankergren
  • 20 Vincelot
  • 18 Dicker
  • 25 LuaLua
  • 12 Mackail-Smith

Middlesbrough

  • 01 Steele
  • 02 Hoyte
  • 03 Bennett Booked
  • 06 McManus
  • 15 Hines
  • 10 Bailey Booked
  • 17 Robson
  • 18 Arca Booked
  • 33 Smallwood Booked
  • 09 Emnes (McDonald - 69' )
  • 30 Jutkiewicz (Ogbeche - 84' )

Substitutes

  • 29 McMahon
  • 08 Thomson
  • 11 Hammill
  • 07 McDonald
  • 16 Ogbeche
Ref: Deadman
Att: 20,553

Match Stats

Shots

10 13

On target

8 7

Corners

4 5

Fouls

8 13

Live Text Commentary

90:00 +5:04 Full time

Full Time The referee blows his whistle to end the game.

90:00 +3:51

Justin Hoyte takes a shot. Save by Peter Brezovan.

90:00 +1:47

Free kick awarded for a foul by Rodriguez Vicente on Julio Arca. Nicky Bailey restarts play with the free kick.

88:47

Rodriguez Vicente takes a shot. Jason Steele makes a save.

88:15

Free kick awarded for a foul by Scott McDonald on Joe Mattock. Liam Bridcutt restarts play with the free kick.

87:29

Richard Smallwood concedes a free kick for a foul on Kazenga LuaLua. Peter Brezovan takes the free kick.

87:04

Adam El-Abd concedes a free kick for a foul on Bart Ogbeche. Direct free kick taken by Nicky Bailey.

84:32

The referee blows for offside against Scott McDonald. Peter Brezovan takes the free kick.

83:07 Substitution

Substitution Lukas Jutkiewicz goes off and Bart Ogbeche comes on.

81:03

Rodriguez Vicente shoots direct from the free kick, save by Jason Steele.

81:03 Booking

Booking Joe Bennett is shown a yellow card.

80:47

Joe Bennett concedes a free kick for a foul on Craig Mackail-Smith.

78:09 Booking

Booking Julio Arca is given a yellow card.

76:52

Direct effort from the free kick comes in from Joe Bennett, save by Peter Brezovan.

76:52 Booking

Booking Kazenga LuaLua is cautioned by the ref for unsporting behaviour.

76:43

Free kick awarded for an unfair challenge on Barry Robson by Kazenga LuaLua.

74:21

Scott McDonald gives away a free kick for an unfair challenge on Gordon Greer. Direct free kick taken by Peter Brezovan.

72:33

Assist on the goal came from Kazenga LuaLua.

72:33 Goal scored

Goal - Inigo Calderon - Brighton 1 - 1 Middlesbro Inigo Calderon finds the back of the net with a headed goal from close in. Brighton 1-1 Middlesbrough.

72:20

Kazenga LuaLua takes the inswinging corner,

71:40

Joe Bennett concedes a free kick for a foul on Craig Mackail-Smith. Free kick taken by Inigo Calderon.

71:20

Scott McDonald challenges Adam El-Abd unfairly and gives away a free kick. Peter Brezovan takes the free kick.

70:51

Shot by Julio Arca from outside the area goes high over the crossbar.

70:31

Lukas Jutkiewicz takes a shot from outside the penalty area that bounces off the post.

68:57

Stephen McManus restarts play with the free kick.

68:57 Substitution

Substitution Scott McDonald joins the action as a substitute, replacing Marvin Emnes.

68:57 Substitution

Substitution (Brighton) makes a substitution, with Craig Mackail-Smith coming on for Ashley Barnes.

68:57 Substitution

Substitution Will Buckley goes off and Kazenga LuaLua comes on.

68:57 Booking

Booking Liam Bridcutt goes into the referee's book for unsporting behaviour.

67:39

Unfair challenge on Barry Robson by Liam Bridcutt results in a free kick.

62:57

Direct free kick taken by Liam Bridcutt.

62:57 Booking

Booking Caution for Richard Smallwood.

62:48

Free kick awarded for an unfair challenge on Joe Mattock by Richard Smallwood.

60:44

Assist by Barry Robson.

60:44 Goal scored

Goal - Marvin Emnes - Brighton 0 - 1 Middlesbro Marvin Emnes grabs a headed goal from inside the six-yard box. Brighton 0-1 Middlesbrough.

60:11

Inswinging corner taken left-footed by Barry Robson played to the near post,

56:26

Rodriguez Vicente takes a shot. Save by Jason Steele.

55:40

Marvin Emnes has an effort at goal from just outside the box which goes wide of the left-hand post.

54:30

Rodriguez Vicente takes a short corner.

53:35

Barry Robson takes a shot. Save by Peter Brezovan.

51:26

Inswinging corner taken by Barry Robson from the right by-line, Inigo Calderon fouled by Stephen McManus, the ref awards a free kick. Free kick taken by Peter Brezovan.

48:58

Lukas Jutkiewicz produces a left-footed shot from outside the penalty box and misses right.

45:28

Shot from a long way out by Nicky Bailey goes wide of the left-hand post.

45:01

The referee gets the second half started.

45:00 +0:59 Half time

Half Time The first half comes to an end.

43:43

Justin Hoyte concedes a free kick for a foul on Ashley Barnes. Peter Brezovan takes the direct free kick.

43:14

Will Buckley is flagged offside by the assistant referee. Jason Steele takes the indirect free kick.

39:38

Adam El-Abd challenges Julio Arca unfairly and gives away a free kick. Barry Robson produces a strike on goal direct from the free kick.

38:45

Barry Robson takes a inswinging corner to the near post, Ashley Barnes manages to make a clearance.

36:53

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

35:43

Alan Navarro takes a shot. Save made by Jason Steele.

34:59

Lukas Jutkiewicz takes a shot. Save by Peter Brezovan.

34:02

Corner taken by Barry Robson from the left by-line played to the near post, Liam Bridcutt makes a clearance.

30:36

Will Buckley takes a shot. Save made by Jason Steele.

28:52

Outswinging corner taken left-footed by Barry Robson.

28:03

Lukas Jutkiewicz takes a shot. Save made by Jason Steele.

26:36

Outswinging corner taken from the left by-line by Rodriguez Vicente, Adam El-Abd produces a left-footed shot from close range and hits the post.

25:54

Unfair challenge on Inigo Calderon by Lukas Jutkiewicz results in a free kick. Free kick taken by Gordon Greer.

23:37

Stephen McManus challenges Ashley Barnes unfairly and gives away a free kick. Rodriguez Vicente has an effort direct from the free kick. Corner taken left-footed by Rodriguez Vicente from the left by-line, Stephen McManus manages to make a clearance.

22:37

Adam El-Abd takes the direct free kick.

22:37 Booking

Booking Nicky Bailey receives a yellow card.

22:18

Nicky Bailey concedes a free kick for a foul on Rodriguez Vicente.

17:28

Unfair challenge on Adam El-Abd by Marvin Emnes results in a free kick. Peter Brezovan takes the direct free kick.

16:59

Free kick awarded for a foul by Will Buckley on Joe Bennett. Joe Bennett restarts play with the free kick.

15:09

Gordon Greer challenges Marvin Emnes unfairly and gives away a free kick. Strike comes in from Barry Robson from the free kick.

12:27

Unfair challenge on Julio Arca by Will Buckley results in a free kick. Free kick taken by Joe Bennett.

8:00

Sam Vokes is caught offside. Nicky Bailey takes the indirect free kick.

7:18

Joe Mattock takes a shot. Save by Jason Steele.

0:00

The game kicks-off.

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