FA Cup: Middlesbrough 2 Wimbledon - 0: If Diego Forlan harbours any lingering reservations that joining Middlesbrough is hardly the same as signing for Manchester United, Teesside's imminent £6.9 million sterling arrival will have a swift opportunity to establish the differences for himself.
MiddleBy despatching Wimbledon last night the ailing Premiership side teed up a fourth-round tie at home to the Premiership champions, and the word here is that Forlan will be around to make his debut. Middlesbrough's chief executive Keith Lamb, who is in Buenos Aires, has agreed a fee with Independiente for a deal that will be completed within 48 hours, provided they can agree the terms of payment.
With 30 goals in 52 games, the Uruguayan's reputation precedes him and manager Steve McClaren, needing fresh impetus, must hope his impending arrival will lift the foreboding over Teesside.
Phil Stamp sounded Middlesbrough's intent after only two minutes with an audacious diagonal volley that deserved better than to ricochet off the underside of Ian Feuer's crossbar and away to safety, but Boro had to wait only another 60 seconds before scoring.
With the inquest still rumbling at the heart of Wimbledon's defence as to how Stamp had been afforded such space, Szilard Nemeth exposed some more errant marking with a measured pass for Noel Whelan to ghost clear and slip a neat shot beyond the advancing Feuer.
That set the tone for a spell of concerted Middlesbrough pressure. Whelan squandered a relatively simple opportunity, from another Nemeth assist, as well as having a fine volley saved from Stamp's knock-down.
If Boro had accepted a better percentage of their early chances, they might have seized an advantage. Instead Wimbledon gradually began to emerge as an attacking force and David Connolly, their Republic of Ireland striker, twice forced saves from Mark Crossley before half-time.
Boro continued to wilt after the break, with Wimbledon displaying a renewed sense of urgency. Crossley again made an excellent save from Connolly on the hour. The striker was looking increasingly dangerous but on 75 minutes he missed horribly from six yards.
A familiar sense of irritation was descending over the half-empty stands until Allan Johnston, a 69th-minute replacement for Stamp, crossed and Wimbledon's Trond Andersen touched the ball against his team-mate Kenny Cunningham and beyond Feuer.
MIDDLESBROUGH: Crossley, Festa, Southgate, Queudrue,Stockdale, Stamp (Johnston 69), Mustoe, Ince, Marinelli (Greening 78), Nemeth (Windass 78), Whelan. Subs Not Used: Jones, Cooper. Booked: Marinelli. Goals: Whelan 3, Cunningham 81 og.
Wimbledon: Feuer, Cunningham, Holloway, Hawkins, Francis, Ardley, Andersen, Hughes,Cooper (McAnuff 76), Shipperley (Agyemang 70), Connolly. Subs Not Used: Heald, Jupp, Willmott. Booked: Holloway, Shipperley, Francis.
Referee: S Bennett (Kent).
