MIDDLESBROUGH are back in the Premier League after earning the final day point they required in the Championship showdown with promotion rivals Brighton at a roaring Riverside Stadium.

Thousands of Boro fans invaded the Riverside Stadium pitch to join in the celebrations after the final whistle as Aitor Karanka’s men completed the job they set out to achieve last August.

After a gruelling 46-game season, full of twists and turns, Middlesbrough edged over the line by preventing Brighton from claiming the victory that would have seen them climb into second spot ahead of them.

There were nerves and tension plus a couple of goals, even one for Brighton, but the fact that matters is that Middlesbrough have finished in the top two behind champions Burnley. The Seagulls will now face play-offs.

Middlesbrough took the lead in the 19th minute when Cristhian Stuani tapped in a David Nugent back post volley to put the Teessiders on course for the result they craved.

Brighton battled back to equalise nine minutes after half-time when Dale Stephens headed in Anthony Knockaert's delivery moments before he was red carded for a bad tackle on Gaston Ramirez.

Despite a tense final 35 minutes, Middlesbrough completed the job to leave a packed Riverside celebrating a return to the big time with chants of 'we are Premier League' and 'there's only one Steve Gibson'.

There were thousands of fans outside the Riverside for hours before kick-off and with about half an hour remaining the atmosphere cranked up a notch. The flags and scarves around the 34,000 sell-out crowd made for a sea of red, with the exception of the illuminous green section of Brighton’s 2,500 contingent.

Not even the surprise exclusion of Stewart Downing and Jordan Rhodes altered the pre-match mood either, with the £16m pair named on the bench to accommodate Stuani and Nugent. The presence of the returning George Friend on the left, though, was a boost for everyone.

But Brighton, knowing just a point would take Middlesbrough up and leave them facing a play-off battle, started the final game of the season in with a chance of a top two spot because they are a dangerous side. An unbeaten 13-match run has seen them score 30 goals, so Middlesbrough knew it would be tough.

The visitors started brightly enough too, earning three corners and looking bright down the flanks with Anthony Knockaert and Jamie Murphy, without seriously testing Dimi Konstantopoulos.

Middlesbrough looked solid but unspectacular, but got the breakthrough the Riverside craved. Ramirez delivered a free-kick to the back post where Nugent was on hand to volley back across the face of the goal and Stuani was on hand to convert.

The Uruguayan made a bee-line for the technical area to celebrate with anyone he could find and Middlesbrough, who would have added a second soon after had Connor Goldson not cleared a Stuani effort of the line, had taken another giant step towards promotion.

The biggest concern for Middlesbrough at half-time was the fact they had not added to their lead because they had the chances too.

Albert Adomah wasted a great opportunity to set up a second shortly after, while Ramirez lobbed the keeper and found the top of the net after being sent clear on goal. Stuani was also guilty of finding keeper David Stockdale when it looked easier to play in Ramirez.

Brighton played plenty of nice football without doing the damage in the final third, which prompted Hughton to throw on James Wilson – the scorer of the equaliser against Derby last Monday – for the peripheral Sam Baldock.

The change was perfect for the visitors. Brighton picked themselves up started strongly. Nine minutes after half-time, Knockaert’s delivery to the back post was headed back over Konstantopoulos and inside the far corner by Stephens.

Moments later – and after Middlesbrough had claims for a penalty waved away when Nugent’s effort was denied by Rosenior’s arm - Stephens was the bad guy when he left his studs in on Ramirez. The red card was issued by referee Mike Dean and Ramirez, with a deep cut to his leg, was replaced.

Brighton just kept pressing, but the more they did the more resilient Middlesbrough’s defending became; knowing that the Premier League was within their grasp.

And just when it seemed Middlesbrough would secure the vital second to put the game to bed, former Darlington keeper David Stockdale made a fine one handed save to deny his back post volley from hitting the net.

The fact he didn’t, didn’t matter in the end. Middlesbrough are back in the Premier League for the first time since 2009.

MIDDLESBROUGH (4-2-3-1): Konstantopoulos; Nsue, Ayala, Gibson, Friend; Clayton, Leadbitter; Adomah, Ramirez (Downing 64), Stuani; Nugent (Rhodes 80). Subs: Agazzi, Forshaw, Kalas, De Sart, De Laet.

BRIGHTON (4-4-2): Stockdale; Bruno, Goldson, Greer (LuaLua 82), Rosenior; Knockaert, Stephens, Kayal, Murphy (Sidwell 64); Baldock (Wilson 46), Hemed. Subs (not used): Maenpaa (GK), Calderon, Bong, Skalak.