MIDDLESBROUGH are out of the FA Cup after an unlucky break in the dying stages saw Glenn Murray deliver Brighton’s place in the fifth round at the Riverside.

Neither side did enough in the attacking third to alter the scoreline until Murray’s last minute winner, with both goalkeepers left with only the occasional save to make.

There were opportunities, with the best Middlesbrough efforts coming from the lively Adama Traore, but there was to be no breakthrough against their Premier League counterparts.

And then, with Brighton pressing, George Friend saw his attempted clearance hit Murray and fly into the Middlesbrough net to inflict fourth round defeat on Boro.

Now Championship side Middlesbrough, looking to return to the top-flight this season, will have to focus all their attentions on the promotion charge.

It was the first time these two sides had met in the FA Cup since 1906, and it was an opportunity for Ashley Fletcher and Adam Clayton to prove themselves under Tony Pulis.

Both players have interested clubs ahead of Wednesday’s transfer window and there has been a reluctance to accept loans for them.

Fletcher couldn’t get the goal that he would have loved to boost his confidence on the first team stage.

Pulis introduced that duo as part of three changes to the side which won comprehensively at Queens Park Rangers a week earlier. Martin Braithwaite was also recalled, with Stewart Downing on the bench for the first hour.

Fletcher was the only player to go close in the early moments, while it took until the half hour mark for either side to record an effort on target; that was a simple header from Daniel Ayala into the arms of Tim Krul.

Brighton, fielding seven changes to their last Premier League XI, didn’t seem to have much intention to attack, while Traore was the man who lit up Middlesbrough’s play again.

The home side played well enough, even though opportunities in front of goal were limited. Patrick Bamford’s overhead kick dropped on to the roof of the net following one of Ryan Shotton’s long throws in the area, while Traore came closest soon after.

The Spaniard, who had caused problems for full-back Markus Suttner a number of times, was fed a pass from Fletcher before deciding to take on a short early with the outside of his boot from 22 yards. Former Newcastle keeper Krul tipped it on to the post.

Fletcher and Braithwaite didn’t last long into the second half, with Pulis taking them off 11 minutes in. With the window approaching, and interest from elsewhere, it could well prove to be their last appearances in a Middlesbrough shirt.

It says a lot about the visitors’ performance that it took Brighton until just before the hour to test Darren Randolph. The Middlesbrough keeper reacted quickly to block Jiri Skalak’s effort after initially spilling Beram Kayal’s strike.

Traore was still the man that made things come to life when he wanted. As the minutes started to tick by, he cut inside from the left, beat two men and then shaved the side netting from distance with a low shot.

Brighton stepped up a gear in the closing stages to try to avoid a replay and they got the stroke of luck they needed.

Friend’s attempted clearance after a ball was delivered into the area in the area bounced off Murray and flew straight past Randolph to seal Brighton’s progress.

Middlesbrough: (4-2-3-1): Randolph; Shotton, Ayala (Fry 65), Gibson, Friend; Clayton, Howson; Traore, Braithwaite (Downing 56), Bamford; Fletcher (Assombalonga 56). Subs (not used): Konstantopoulos (gk), Christie, Leadbitter, Johnson.

Brighton: (4-4-1-1): Krul; Rosenior, Huenemeier, Goldson, Suttner; Knockaert, Stephens (Propper 46), Kayal, Skalak (Izqueirdo 61); Baldock; Hemed (Murray 71). Subs (not used): Maenpaa (gk), Dunk, Schelotto.