Middlesbrough scored twice in the first-half to account for neighbours Sunderland in the FA Cup third round.
Striker Rudy Gestede earned them the lead on ten minutes and Martin Braithwaite added a second close to the interval.
The early breakthrough arose as Adama Traore sprinted down the middle and allowed Gestede to slide beyond former Boro keeper Jason Steele.
The returning Braithwaite almost improved upon that moments later before having a further couple of efforts.
Stewart Downing was also narrowly wide of the mark, while Ethan Robson’s free-kick reply was too high.
However, Braithwaite shot through a crowded area to double the advantage following Steele failing to deal with Downing’s late first-half corner.
The visitors began the second period better and Josh Maja headed onto the crossbar before Traore was testing Steele at the other end.
Home keeper Darren Randolph then reacted well to meet a Tyias Browning header, with opposite number Steele denying Gestede and substitute Adam Clayton also lifting over from the edge of the area.
Middlesbrough: Randolph, Shotton, Ayala, Gibson, Friend (Christie 90), Leadbitter, Howson, Traore (Johnson 81), Braithwaite (Clayton 65), Downing, Gestede
subs (unused): Konstantopoulos, Assombalonga, Fletcher,Christie
Goals: Gestede (10), Braithwaite (42)
Sunderland: Steele, Jones, Browning, O’Shea, Wilson, Oviedo, Honeyman, Love, Robson (Embleton 81), McManaman (Asoro 53), Maja (Vaughan 74)
subs (unused): Galloway, Ruiter, Beadling, Gamble
Ref: C. Kavanagh
Att: 26,399
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