Victory still proving elusive for Boro as bid for play-offs intensifies

After a 1-1 stalemate at Brighton & Hove Albion, Boro have now drawn their last four matches and have not won in six.

In an open and entertaining game a 61st-minute goal from Marvin Emnes threatened to consign Brighton to their first home league defeat in three-and-a-half months.

But Spanish defender Inigo Calderon gave the hosts a share of the points 17 minutes from time by heading in a corner from substitute Kazenga LuaLua at the far post.

“With four weeks to go it is very tight obviously, but we have to keep going,” said Mowbray.

“We’ve drawn four in a row now and it’s a very tight league. With six games to go, we’ll have to win two or three of them to cement a place in the play-offs.”

Mowbray appointed midfielder Barry Robson as new captain following injuries to defender Matthew Bates, and Robson spoilt an otherwise outstanding performance by failing to stay tight on Calderon for Albion’s equalising goal.

“Robson is annoyed at losing his man at the far post, and it was that which cost us the goal,” added Mowbray.

“But credit to Brighton. Their psychology can only benefit football.

“Brighton play in a similar way to how Swansea played in the Championship last season.

“We were a bit stretched defensively due to injuries, but you wouldn’t have thought so.”

Brighton manager, Gus Poyet, added: “We were not dominant in this game, but we had the best chances and competed against a very good team.”

Brighton & Hove Albion: Brezovan, Mattock, Greer, El-Abd, Navarro, Barnes (Mackail-Smith 68), Calderon, Vicente, Vokes, Bridcutt, Buckley (LuaLua 68). Unused substitutes: Ankergren, Dicker, Vincelot.

Middlesbrough: Steele, Hoyte, Bennett, McManus, Emnes (McDonald 69), Bailey, Hines, Robson, Arca, Jutkiewicz (Ogbeche 84), Smallwood. Unused substitutes: Thomson, Hammill, McMahon.

Referee: D Deadman (Cambridgeshire).