MIDDLESBROUGH reached the FA Cup quarter-finals for the first time since 2008 as Cristhian Stuani’s 86th-minute winner secured a 3-2 win over Oxford United.

Having established a comfortable lead through Grant Leadbitter and Rudy Gestede, Boro were in danger of throwing things away when Chris Maguire and Antonio Martinez scored two goals in the space of 60 seconds.

However, Stuani struck from close range with four minutes left to hand Boro a place in Sunday’s last-eight draw.

What were the key talking points from Boro’s victory at the Riverside?


STUANI SWOOPS FOR MIDDLESBROUGH AGAIN

The Northern Echo:

Cristhian Stuani might not be the most prolific forward in the Middlesbrough squad, but the Uruguayan has a knack for scoring crucial goals.

He scored the most important goal of last season when he opened the scoring in the 1-1 draw with Brighton that clinched promotion, and got Boro up and running in the current campaign when he fired in both of his side’s goals in August’s 2-1 win at Sunderland.

He notched again in the 1-1 draw at West Ham, and this afternoon’s goal hauled Boro into the last eight when they looked destined for what would have been a testing replay at the Kassam Stadium.

Some supporters question why Aitor Karanka continues to field Stuani on the right-hand side, but his ability to cut inside to offer a goalscoring threat is a key asset.


GRANT GETS BORO GOING

The Northern Echo:

Grant Leadbitter found himself in a more attacking role than usual this afternoon, and the returning skipper made the most of it as he powered his side forward before the break.

Leadbitter looked perfectly at home playing alongside Stewart Downing, with Adam Clayton holding the fort behind him, and he came close to opening the scoring with a superb chip that clipped the crossbar.

He did not have to wait much longer for a goal, opening the scoring from the penalty spot, and while he faded slightly in the second half, he never stopped working in an attempt to drive Middlesbrough on.

Leadbitter’s chances have been minimal this season, with Karanka preferring Adam Forshaw, Adam Clayton and Marten de Roon, but as this afternoon’s performance proved, the club captain is capable of being much more than a defensive screen.


BORO’S STAND-IN CENTRE-HALVES WOBBLE

The Northern Echo:

Middlesbrough made it in the end, but they had to survive a huge second-half scare in order to make it into the last eight. Oxford deserve a great deal of credit for their attacking approach after the interval, but Boro’s makeshift centre-half pairing of Bernardo Espinosa and Daniel Ayala never looked comfortable.

Bernardo was especially shaky, struggling to deal with the movement of Martinez and finding himself pulled out of position at regular intervals.

Ayala was only marginally better, and for all that they were playing against League One opposition, neither Boro centre-half was able to impose themselves on the game.

Calum Chambers and Ben Gibson have formed Boro’s first-choice centre-half partnership for the vast majority of the season, and on this evidence, neither is likely to cede their position provided they remain fit.


THE CUP OPENS UP

The Northern Echo:

Middlesbrough have made it to the last eight without having faced another Premier League side, and the way things are going, they could yet reach Wembley without crossing paths with another team from the top-flight.

After Chelsea beat Wolves on Saturday night, the only other teams guaranteed a place in the last eight are Boro, League One Millwall and non-leaguers Lincoln City.

Manchester City face a replay with Huddersfield, and the likes of Arsenal and Tottenham are still involved, but Boro could be handed an extremely inviting game when the quarter-final draw takes place on Sunday.

Lincoln City in the quarter-finals? There’s a one-in-seven chance, and a win in the last eight would take Boro to Wembley for the first time since the play-off final.


MANAGER’S COMMENTS

The Northern Echo:

Middlesbrough head coach Aitor Karanka said: “I’m really pleased. I said before that Oxford are a good team who beat Newcastle in the last round. I said we had to be careful. We had the game under control, but then you make a big mistake if you think everything is won.

“You always have to concentrate, especially in this country, and that is a good lesson for the future.

“The substitutions paid off, and they are all good players – I am pleased for them. Three years ago, no one thought we would be in the Premier League and in the quarter-finals of the FA Cup. But the attitude of the players was very good.”


Oxford manager Michael Appleton said: “We came here to win it, not just to enjoy the day. “We believed we could do that, and I thought there was only one winner when it went to 2-2.

“Frustration is the biggest feeling. For us to come back like we did, and spend the majority of the second half in their field, it was then such a shame to concede a goal like we did. It was almost a League One goal really.

“I’m delighted with their approach though, especially in the second half. We thought we could get down the sides of their centre-backs, and it looked like being one of those fantastic comebacks, but it wasn’t to be.

“They need to take this on now, and make sure they’re playing with that type of tempo and positivity all the time.”


LINE-UPS:

Middlesbrough (4-1-4-1): Guzan, Chambers, Bernardo, Ayala, Fabio, Clayton, Traore (Stuani 71), Leadbitter, Downing, Fischer (Ramirez 71), Gestede (Negredo 86).

Subs (not used): Valdes, Gibson, de Roon, Bamford.

Oxford (4-4-1-1): Eastwood; Edwards, Dunkley, Nelson, Johnson, Hall, Lundstram, Ledson, Maguire, Hemmings (McAleny 64), Martinez (Sercombe 85).

Subs (not used): Agboola, Skarz, Ruffels, Rothwell, Raglan.