Match Report: Boro 1 Brighton 5

Boro's FA Cup hopes fell at the first hurdle as Premier League Brighton proved too much for Michael Carrick's men at the Riverside.

In what started as an open contest, Chuba Akpom maintained his fine run in front of goal, but it ultimately proved to be a consolation as the classy visitors ran out 5-1 winners.

Brighton started the game well and were in front inside the opening 10 minutes. Solly March was denied by Zack Steffen, but Pascal Gross followed up to slam the ball home.

Steffen was also called upon moments later to save well from Adam Lallana.

Yet Boro were back on level terms before the 15-minute mark. The goal came in trademark fashion after some neat build-up play when Ryan Giles provided the final ball and former Boro goalkeeper Jason Steele was unable to keep out Akpom’s header.

The goal settled Boro down and Steele did well to get a hand to a goalbound effort from Riley McGree after some incisive movement.

But the visitors were back in front on the half-hour. Kaaru Mitoma met a March cross at the back post and Lallana was able to convert with his chest right on the line.

It was an open game with both sides looking to attack and while Steffen made a couple of saves, Boro were also denied by some good defensive blocks by the visitors before the half-time whistle.

Brighton introduced a World Cup winner for the second period when Alexis MacAllister replaced Lallana.

It was Steffen who made a good reaction save at the start of the second period to deny March with a header from close range.

But it was the World Cup winner who extended Brighton’s lead when he flicked a Pervis Estupinan ball past Steffen to make it 3-1 before the hour.

Boro responded by making a triple substitution with Isaiah Jones, Duncan Watmore, and Alex Mowatt coming off the bench.

There was also time for a debut when new loan signing Cameron Archer replaced Matt Crooks for the final 22 minutes.

The visitors sealed their win with 10 minutes left on the clock when MacAllister scored his second of the game, converting a Gross pass with ease to make it 4-1.

It was the second time in a matter of days that the Seagulls had ran in four away from home after they put the same past Everton earlier in the week.

They hadn't finished there, though, and with two minutes left Deniz Undov drilled a shot across Steffen and inside the far post.