Middlesbrough 1 Brighton 0

Dec 11 2011 Sunday Sun

BATTLING Boro stepped up the promotion pace in a feisty 1-0 win over Brighton at the Riverside rumble – but they made hard work of it.

Boro grabbed the precious winning goal midway through the first half as Scott McDonald stabbed home after a goalkeeping howler.

But they failed to seal it in the second half with Matthew Bates and Bart Ogbeche squandering golden chances.

And they were left hanging on for dear life in a tense and tetchy closing spell.

The game was a niggly affair with seven bookings and arguably the referee missed far more robust stuff on and off the ball and left both sides frustrated with a string of erratic decisions.

But Boro won’t mind. The win cut the gap to West Ham in second spot to just two points and leaves them well-placed to push on.

Boro were under the cosh in a frantic opening spell as Brighton attacked from the off.

But they broke out to threaten first as Joe Bennett wriggled down the left and chipped towards Marvin Emnes in the box but it was hacked clear.

Then on six minutes Boro carved out the first real chance of the game as Julio Arca chested down a Barry Robson ball into the box for Merouane Zemmama to fire an 18-yard snapshot just wide.

Brighton’s first effort came on 10 minutes as Jara Reyes barged through a Robson challenge to slot a ball into the feet of Noone, who rifled a low 25-yard effort a foot wide of the near post.

Two minutes later the visitors won a free-kick 25 yards out and when Bridcutt rolled it inside LuaLua hammered in a low shot that flew through the crowded box and glanced the foot of the post.

Boro were back on the attack on 17 minutes as Emnes twisted and tricked his way into the box and had an angled drive blocked by Greer.

There was an open spell with both teams pressing forward in numbers as the game opened up.

Then Boro snatched the vital goal on 21 minutes, aided by a calamitous keeper’s error. Bennett got down the left and cut to the byline then crossed to the near post where Brighton keeper Ankergren smothered then spilled it.