Middlesbrough vs Sunderland. The FA Cup Third Round.
Riverside StadiumAttendance26,399.
Saturday 6 January 2018 18:08, UK
Rudy Gestede and Martin Braithwaite scored in the first half as Middlesbrough dumped north-east rivals Sunderland out of the FA Cup with a 2-0 win at the Riverside Stadium.
Gestede took just 10 minutes to heap more woe on the Championship's bottom club and Braithwaite's effort just before the break effectively ensured the visitors' sole remaining focus this season will be avoiding a second consecutive relegation.
Black Cats boss Chris Coleman may take heart from an improved second-half display from his injury-hit side, but they had only a Josh Maja shot and a Tyias Browning header which was brilliantly saved by Boro 'keeper Darren Randolph to show for it.
In contrast Boro look to be heading in a different direction under new boss Tony Pulis, who made three changes in a strong line-up, which included the respective returns of both his goalscorers.
In predictably chilly conditions, Adama Traore timed his pass from the right flank to perfection to send in Gestede, who threaded the ball past the onrushing Jason Steele to put his side ahead.
Three minutes before the break Boro deservedly doubled their lead when Steele failed to deal with a Stewart Downing corner, leading to a prolonged goalmouth scramble before the ball fell to Braithwaite who prodded home.
The visitors improved territorially in the second half, Maja clattering an effort against the woodwork from a George Honeyman corner, but for all their possession their final ball was dreadfully lacking and they summoned nothing to threaten Darren Randolph in the Boro goal.
Finally the visitors came close to a breakthrough in the 68th minute when Tyias Browning met an Oviedo corner with a powerful, point-blank header which Randolph somehow managed to tip onto the bar and away.
Gestede almost added his second in the 75th minute when his shot from a Ryan Shotton cross was well saved by Steele, and substitute Adam Clayton drilled an effort over the bar as the home side ultimately eased to victory.
