Middlesbrough fell to second-half goals from Spanish pair Andrea Orlandi and David Lopez in a 2-0 defeat to Brighton at the Riverside.
Orlandi opened the visitors’ account on the hour and Lopez soon chipped a second over advancing goalkeeper Jason Steele to move them up to fifth place in the table and now ten points clear of their latest opponents.
Home midfielder Richie Smallwood forced an early low save from Casper Ankergren while Merouane Zemmama miscued and Rhys Williams drove over from distance.
Boro continued to press and a Scott McDonald shot was diverted behind before Andy Halliday fired across goal ahead of having unsuccessful penalty claims after going down inside the area. Orlandi then saw a drive blocked for the visitors at the end of a decidedly unsatisfactory opening half.
However, Brighton’s Inigo Calderon hoisted over soon after the restart and it was his side who went ahead as Orlandi crashed in Dean Hammond’s 60th minute cross from the edge of the six-yard box.
That lead was extended sixteen minutes later when a ball delivered from the back allowed Lopez to chip over the advancing Steele.
Returning striker Curtis Main tried a couple of unsuccessful efforts in reply while substitute Mustapha Carayol and McDonald were both wide for the hosts late on.
Middlesbrough: Steele, Hoyte, R. Williams, Woodgate, Halliday, Leadbitter, Zemmama (Ameobi 62), Smallwood (McEachran 70),
Haroun (Carayol 70), Main, McDonald
subs (unused): Leutwiler, Bikey, Bailey, Miller
Brighton: Ankergren, Greer, Calderon, Upson, Bridge, Hammond, Crofts, Orlandi (Forster-Caskey 90), Lopez (Dicker 85), Bridcutt, Ulloa
subs (unused): Brezovan, El-Abd, Painter, Vicente, Barker
Goals: Orlandi (60), Lopez (76)
Ref: Mathieson
Att: 14,925
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