After a Halloween fright, Boro’s quality told to settle a cup thriller against Exeter.
A drab Devon night at St James Park was treated to four excellent goals, and finally Emmanuel Latte Lath’s penalty decided the first-ever meeting of these sides in Boro’s favour.
Michael Carrick shuffled the pack, making seven changes to his starting line-up from the weekend.
Tom Glover resumed his duties as this season’s Carabao Cup goalkeeper, and Hayden Hackney returned to Boro’s centre-midfield after serving a suspension. At right-back, Anfernee Dijksteel made his first start of the campaign following his summer injury, while Alex Bangura came in on the left side of the defence.
Possession
72%Shots
19Shots On Target
8Corners
9Fouls
143
0
Cards
3
0
Further forward, Sammy Silvera, Morgan Rogers and Emmanuel Latte Lath were each given starts after scoring from the bench in recent weeks – and the trio would get their names on the scoresheet again.
It was the League One side, though, who struck first - the thirteenth minute proving an unlucky one for the Boro as their hosts produced a moment of individual quality.
Brentford loanee Ryan Trevitt didn’t hesitate on receiving the ball to the right of Boro’s area, whipping in a first-time strike on the half volley that beat Glover and found the back of the net via the crossbar.
With the home side happy to try and protect their lead, Boro’s challenge was now to convert their dominance of the ball into genuine goalscoring opportunities.
Skipper Dael Fry went close to fashioning an equaliser when he evaded the host's attentions at the back post and sent a low volley back across goal and skimming wide of the post.
Silvera tested Vil Sinisalo in the Exeter net with a snapshot inside the area, and the Grecians keeper held onto the follow-up from Dijksteel.
The Teessiders saved their best piece of first-half play for stoppage time, Dijksteel showing nimble feet to open up space on the right before finding Silvera, whose drive with the outside of his boot was tipped over the centre of his goal by Sinisalo.
Boro quickly got about their business in the second half, and restored parity with a quality goal of their own.
Alex Bangura, seconds after an unsuccessful ball in from Boro’s left, showed tremendous desire to get a foot in and win back possession for Rogers, who hit a devastating strike that left Sinisalo with no chance as it curled into the top corner.
Silvera then gave Boro the lead on the hour mark with the goal he had long threatened. The Australian drifted in from the left and delivered the game’s third fine finish, bending low and into the bottom corner.
Silvera was really in the mood and could have added to his tally soon after when he glided infield again and rattled the stanchion.
But it was Trevitt who got his second of the evening next, another superlative strike from range that dipped and curved and left Glover with little chance.
Boro continued to control proceedings, and only a strong hand from Sinisalo prevented Silvera after a smart one-two with Rogers. Hayden Hackney fizzed a free-kick that rippled the side netting as the Teessiders kept knocking on the door.
Trevitt, after showing such quality with his two goals, turned villain for the hosts with a clear shirt-pull in his own area on Rogers.
Latte Lath took a deep breath and slotted in the spot kick, seeing Boro through to the Carabao Cup’s last eight for the first time in five years.
Exeter: Sinisalo, Aimson, Fitzwater (Diabate 60'), Hartridge, Mitchell (Harper 34'), Taylor (Richards 79'), Trevitt, Kite, Jules, Muskwe (Wildschut 60'), Scott
Subs: Wildschut, MacDonald, Harper, Diabate, Dean, Richards, Cunningham
Middlesbrough: Glover, Dijksteel (van den Berg 87'), Fry, McNair, Bangura (Engel 83'), Hackney, Barlaser, Jones, Rogers, Silvera (Crooks 87'), Latte Lath (Coburn 90')
Subs: van den Berg, Clarke, Gilbert, Howson, Coburn, Coulson, Crooks, Engel, Jones