Goals:

0-1: Murray (90, in the right place for Friend’s attempted clearance to ricochet off him and fly into the net)

Bookings: Clayton (44, foul); Baldock (61, foul); Propper (68, foul); Izqueirdo (70, foul)

Sending-off: None

Referee: Anthony Taylor (Wythenshawe) – straight forward afternoon for the Premier League referee. 7

Attendance: 20,475

Entertainment: **

Boro Bright

Shots on 3 4

Shots off 13 7

Corners 6 5

Offsides 2 2

Fouls 5 16

MIDDLESBROUGH (4-2-3-1):

6 Randolph: Made a couple of saves, even if he made a mess of one, and not to be blamed for the winner;

6 Shotton: Defended well and his throws caused a few problems

7 Ayala: Had looked like the Ayala of a couple of years ago until he was forced off through injury

7 Gibson: Strong in the tackle and quick off the mark alongside side-kick Ayala

6 Friend: Playing much better and unfortunate to see his clearance fly off Murray and hit the net;

6 Clayton: Steady away in the middle without doing anything special

6 Howson: Looked to keep the ball moving without threading enough balls through

8 TRAORE: Is Boro's main man going forward at the moment but needs to find goals

5 Braithwaite: Looked well short of the confidence he had earlier in the season

5 Bamford: Had an overhead kick go close in the first half but didn't threaten the goal enough

5 Fletcher: One pass through for Traore and an early effort that flew wide

Subs:

Downing (for Braithwaite 56): Looked lively enough after coming on. 6

Assombalonga (for Fletcher 56): Didn't threaten the Brighton net. 5

Fry (for Ayala 65): Slotted in confidently. 5

(not used): Konstantopoulos (gk), Christie, Leadbitter, Johnson.

BRIGHTON: (4-4-1-1): Krul 7; Rosenior 6, Huenemeier 7, Goldson 6, Suttner 6; Knockaert 6, Stephens 5 (Propper 46, 5), Kayal 6, SKALAK 7 (Izqueirdo 61, 5); Baldock 5; Hemed 5 (Murray 71). Subs (not used): Maenpaa (gk), Dunk, Schelotto.

MAN OF THE MATCH: ADAMA Traore - looks a lot more dangerous than he has under previous managers and is shooting too.