By Tim Hodges
Middlesbrough 0 Brighton & Hove Albion 2
The Albion won on Teesside for the first time in more than 25 years, further cementing their place in the Championship play-off picture.
With Tomasz Kuszczak injured, Casper Ankergren was recalled in goal. Will Buckley and Kazenga LuaLua were also missing through injury.
Although the home side edged the first half, it was two of the Albion’s Spanish players who did all the damage.
Andrea Orlandi swept the ball home high into the net from just inside the penalty area right on the hour mark to put Albion in front.
Boro didn’t really create an equalising chance. Then with 13 minutes left to play Liam Bridcutt released David Lopez, who spotted Boro keeper Jason Steele off his line. The former Atletico Madrid man chipped the backtracking keeper to double Albion’s advantage.
The Seagulls are now fifth in the table and are away to relegation-threatened Peterborough United on Tuesday evening (16 April).