Marvin's goal seals Boro victory

Marvin Emnes scored the only goal midway through the first-half as Middlesbrough claimed a fourth straight away victory at Brighton.

The Dutchman saw his shot from the edge of the area deflect pass goalkeeper Tomasz Kuszczak to move the visitors up to seventh in the table.

Boro earlier handed a first start in six years to defender Stuart Parnaby at the expense of the injured Justin Hoyte while there were recalls for both Jonathan Woodgate and Scott McDonald.

Opportunities were rather few and far between during the opening stages until Emnes' driven attempt took a big deflection off an opponent to wrongfoot the keeper and earn them the lead.

But it needed an excellent save from Jason Steele to preserve that as he kept out danger-man Craig Mackail-Smith, who was then wide from another attempt.

Brighton then missed a great chance to equalise after the break as Steele denied Ashley Barnes before Andre Bikey played the ball against Mackail-Smith and over the bar.

England Under-21 international Steele was also required to thwart Barnes again while substitute Will Buckley next shot wide as the hosts pressed forward for an equaliser.

However, it was nearly their opponents extending their lead as Kuszczak turned aside Grant Leadbitter's angled drive before Boro substitute Ishmael Miller used his strength to shoot wide late on.

Brighton: Kuszczak, Bruno, Greer, El-Abd (Dobbie 69), Bridge, Hammond, Crofts (Buckley 69), David Lopez (LuaLua 82), Bridcutt, Barnes, Mackail-Smith

subs (unused): Ankergren, Dunk, Calderon, Dicker

Middlesbrough: Steele, Parnaby, Woodgate, Bikey, Friend, Leadbitter, Bailey, McEachran (Miller 73), Haroun, Emnes (Smallwood 80), McDonald (Reach 85)

subs (unused): Leutwiler, Hines, Thomson, Ledesma

Goals: Emnes (21)

Ref: D'Urso

Att: 26,293

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