Sunderland 0 Middlesbrough 1: SCOTT McDONALD earned Middlesbrough a quarter-final place in a hard-fought League Cup fourth round Wear-Tees derby at the Stadium of Light.
The striker, who was handed a start by Boro boss Tony Mowbray after he scored both of the goals in last weekend’s 2-1 league win over Bolton from the bench, scrambled the ball home from six yards at the near post late in the first half.
It was enough for Middlesbrough to progress as Sunderland again lacked the cutting edge, a factor that has seen them draw six of their eight Premier League games so far this season.
Sunderland started well and Louis Saha blazed over the bar in a lively opening. McDonald tried a 25-yard strike but his effort went just wide of Keiren Westwood’s goal before Grant Leadbitter’s blast also flew past the target.
Saha had a shot blocked by Seb Hines before McDonald hit the crossbar at the other end with a dipping strike from 25 yards before Boro eventually broke the deadlock in the 39th minute.
The striker ghosted in front of the Sunderland defence to get on the end of Miller’s cross and score his third goal in two games.
After the break, Sunderland visibly stepped it up and tried to wrestle a grip on the game.
Sessegnon went close with a powerful strike from just outside of the box before Adam Johnson tested the Boro defence with a series of dangerous crosses.
Goalkeeper Jason Steele coolly dealt with substitute James McClean’s run and shot in the box in the 78th minute as the home side finally ran out of inspiration.
SUNDERLAND: Westwood, Bardsley, OShea, Cuellar, Cattermole, Colback, Vaughan, Johnson (Campbell 82), Sessegnon, Saha (McClean 59), Fletcher. Subs not used: Mignolet, Kilgallon, Meyler, Wickham, McFadden.
MIDDLESBROUGH: Steele, Hoyte, Amougou, Friend, Hines (Parnaby 65), Leadbitter, Bailey, Haroun, Ledesma (Reach 79), McDonald. Miller (Smallwood 90). Subs not used: Leutwiler, Zemmama, Halliday, Park, Booked: McDonald.
Referee: P Dowd (Staffordshire)
