Boro Blog: Teessiders end Brighton's unbeaten run

By Robert Nichols

What a fabulous performance and what an outstanding result. Boro finally won a big top of the league head-to-head away day and how. Brighton might have already been knocked off top spot by Boro in midweek but they went into Saturday's home game still unbeaten in the league. They had high hopes and expectations but those were shattered early on when Kike rose to head home Adomah's centre and give Boro the perfect start.

This was a game in which Boro's professionalism really stood out. The defence, superbly marshalled by Ayala and Gibson hasn't conceded a goal in aeons and don't the opposition know all about that. Last line of that defence, Dimi only had one real save of note to make all match but it was an excellent stop to keep the score at 1-0.

Boro scored at all the right times. A corner just before half time was the opportunity for Daniel Ayala to climb high and send in a header that Adomah deftly deflected into the opposite corner of the net. 2-0. Right on half time.The task now was to defend that lead through the early skirmishes of the second half. Yet it would be the Brighton defences that were breached again for a third time. Another corner and another headed home, this time by Stuani, after a clever back post chip from Kike.

Boro might have added extra goals through Stuani and Ayala but there were no grumbles from any of the ecstatic fans chanting “We are top of the league,” as the final whistle sounded and all the way along the motorways and rail links back to Teesside. What a win.

Top of the League at Christmas – the present any Boro fan could happily receive.