Sunderland 1 Middlesbrough 1
The Boro side lined up with a 4-3-1-2 shape, with Tony Mowbray springing a surprise or two.
Joe Bennett was dropped to the bench with Justin Hoyte taking over at left-back, Tony McMahon coming in at right-back and Rhys Williams moving into midfield, with Marvin Emnes, Seb Hines dropping in at the back, and Luka Jutkiewicz making his full debut.
There was a surprise in the Sunderland line-up with Lee Cattermole missing out after tweaking a hamstring in training on Friday. John O'Shea took over the captaincy, Craig Gardner taking Cattermole's place in the starting line-up. Connor Whickham came in for Niklas Bendtner, who had facial injuries, in the only other changes from the side that beat Swansea here eight days ago.
After a quiet start the game rendered its first chance with two-and-a-half minutes played as Scott McDonald unleashed a dipping drive from 22 yards which Simon Mignolet needed a second attempt to gather.
A lively atmosphere saw both sets of fans in full voice and attacking the end where Boro fans were housed, Sunderland created a chance to take the lead with 10 minutes played as smooth approach work from Stephane Sessegnon ended with a cross from the right that Sebastian Larsson headed wide.
Another chance followed a few minutes later when David Vaughan whipped over a right-wing corner and James McClean, the scorer against Peterborough from a similar chance in the previous round, headed just over.
A terrific challenge from Matthew Bates stopped Sessegnon in his tracks. However, Barry Robson chose a more robust approach a minute later and conceded a free-kick in a dangerous position and Vaughan only just cleared the bar with his effort.
With 15 minutes played the roof of the end housing the Boro fans almost lifted off as the visitors took the lead. Barry Robson was perfectly placed to be on the end of the volley that he despatched low and left-footed through a crowded box and beyond Mignolet.
It took a fine block from Danny Coyne to keep Boro ahead as McClean broke through just left of centre and drilled in low.
Not long afterwards Coyne again denied McClean, this time grabbing a header that the striker shouldn't have been allowed to get in.
Sunderland thought they had drawn level six minutes from half-time when Gardner drilled in an angled shot. But two infringements led to it being ruled out, following consultation between referee and linesman, Gardner had controlled the ball with his hands and then Whickham had strayed offside right in front of Coyne.
Entering the final minutes of the half referee Kevin Friend played a good advantage after Kevin Richardson had fouled on the halfway line. Boro broke, but squandered the chance to increase their lead as both Faris Haroun and Jutkiewicz horribly miscued good openings.
Half-time: Sunderland 0 Middlesbrough 1
Martin O'Neill made a change at half-time, replacing Whickham with Fraizer Campbell.
Both sides passed up chances to cause problems from free-kicks, Gardner hitting well wide and Robson being not too far away, both from around 25 yards.
In between the efforts Jutkiewicz set up Emnes with a half-chance that the Dutchman volleyed wide from just inside the area.
The game was still end to end. When the ball span up in the air inside the Sunderland penalty area it was inviting for Emnes. Wes Brown came flying over to head behind for a corner, but he rolled over the top the Boro player and landed so awkwardly it was the end of his afternoon.
His replacement may have sneaked on unnoticed to many in the stadium who were reacting in different ways to an equaliser.
From the aforementioned corner the ball was played to Emnes, whose shot was poor, thumped clear and Boro were in trouble from their own corner.
Sunderland broke swiftly, Robson intercepted but played a dreadful ball straight to a striped shirt. The break continued and the ball was played to Fraizer Campbell, who slotted home from well inside the penalty area.
Boro needed to hold steady in the face of what could now be a tide, but they reacted well and created a chance to retake the lead, but a low, well-struck, volley from Williams on the edge of the box fizzed just wide.
With 11 minutes remaining the ball looked to be falling invitingly for Jutkiewicz inside penalty area, but a tackle from Phil Bardsley was well-timed and he cleared for a corner.
Before it could be taken both sides made a change, Coyne limping off to be replaced by Connor Ripley, with Jack Colback replacing Vaughan.
There were very few chances in the closing minutes, during which time McMahon and O'Shea produced excellent tackles inside respective boxes and McClean hit the side netting.
Scorers: Robson, 15, Campbell 58.
Sunderland: Mignolet; Bardsley, Brown (Turner 58), O'Shea (Capt), Gardner, Larsson, Richardson, Vaughan (Colback 79), Sessegnon, McClean, Whickham (Campbell 46). Subs Westwood (gk), Meyler, Elmohamady, Ji.
Middlesbrough: Coyne (Ripley79); McMahon, Bates (Capt), Hines, Hoyte, Emnes, Williams, Robson, Haroun, McDonald, Jutkiewicz. Subs Bennett, Smallwood, Martin, Park, Main, L Williams.
Order of substitutions 1) Coyne 2) Colback
Referee: Kevin Friend, Leicestershire
Bookings
Sunderland: Richardson 45, foul.
Middlesbrough: Hoyte, 44, foul; Williams 70, foul.
Attendance: 33,275 (3,000 Boro)
Conditions: Cold, overcast and still
Website Boro Man of the Match: Barry Robson, with an honourable mention for Faris Haroun
|
Shots |
Cards | |||||
|
Goals |
On target |
Off target |
Corners |
Yellow |
Red | |
|
Sunderland |
1 |
3 |
10 |
7 |
1 |
0 |
|
Boro |
1 |
4 |
7 |
6 |
2 |
0 |
