Middlesbrough 1 Brighton & HA 0: McDonald nets winner but Mowbray refuses to get carried way

The only goal of an ill-tempered game arrived midway through the first half, when Seagulls goalkeeper Casper Ankergren spilled an innocuous cross from Joe Bennett and Scott McDonald pounced to convert from close range at the second attempt.

Although they failed to display their best form in the final third, Boro were good value for their win on a day when leaders Southampton were held by Blackpool and second-placed West Ham were thumped 3-0 at Reading.

Yet a cautious Mowbray said: “I don’t get too concerned about other teams at the moment. I genuinely feel that at this stage of the season we are still just trying to accumulate points, to position ourselves for when the end of the season comes.

“The last dozen or so games; you need to be in there with a shout and the only way to be in the mix is to win games along the way.

“Southampton and West Ham, 10 days ago everybody said it was done and they were running away with the league, yet they have lost a game or two and it closes up again.

“I’m pretty sure their quality will show as the season unfolds. We have to try and stay in the mix with them and results like today will help our chance of doing that.”

Asked if his team should have scored more than once, Mowbray responded: “We sit here and say that quite often. I think it just shows the tightness of the league.”

Mowbray was unable to confirm how long injured top scorer Marvin Emnes will be out for.

Middlesbrough: Steele, Bennett, Bates, Rhys Williams, McMahon, Zemmama (Martin 32), Arca, Robson (Thomson 78), Bailey, McDonald, Emnes (Ogbeche 73). Unused substitutes: Hoyte, Haroun.

Brighton: Ankergren, Greer, Dunk, Jara Reyes, Taricco, Vincelot, Sparrow (Buckley 63), LuaLua, Bridcutt, Noone (Paynter 74), Mackail-Smith (Barnes 74). Unused substitutes: Brezovan, El-Abd.

Referee: M Naylor (Sheffield).

Man of the match: Scott McDonald.