An injury-time goal from Fernando Amorebieta has given Middlesbrough a 2-1 win in the first leg of their Championship playoff tie against Brentford at Griffin Park this evening.
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The visitors were on the attack early on as Lee Tomlin tried to pick out Patrick Bamford from a corner, but the team's top scorer could not stretch high enough to nod it in.
The Bees soon started to look the more likely as they shouted for a penalty when Dean Whitehead appeared to handle the ball, only for their appeals to be waved away, while Alan Judge saw his long-range effort tipped onto the post by Dimitrios Konstantopoulos.
However, it was Aitor Karanka's side who broke the deadlock midway through the first half as Adam Clayton crossed the ball in for Jelle Vossen, leaving the on-loan striker to head it past David Button.
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The Belgian thought that he had added a second shortly afterwards when he tried to turn the rebound in after Button denied Tomlin, but the officials ruled that it did not cross the line before the keeper recovered.
James Tarkowski came close to getting the scores back on level terms just before half time after winning a free kick, but his header from the resulting set piece was just wide of the post.
Mark Warburton's side continued to push for an equaliser at the start of the second half, with Andre Gray slicing the ball high from inside the box just a few minutes after the restart.
Gray did not miss moments later though as a poor clearance from Konstantopoulos was chased down by the striker, leaving him to curl the ball in from a tight angle.
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The former Luton Town forward was involved again a couple of minutes later, rounding a couple of defenders as he cut inside, but he could not keep his finish down, firing high.
Albert Adomah tried to put the visitors back in front with just over an hour played, cutting in from out wide before unleashing a powerful finish from the edge of the box, but Button was just able to palm it clear.
Konstantopoulos had to remain alert down the other end just two minutes later though as Brentford looked to edge in front for the first time, but the Boro keeper denied Jonathan Douglas at full stretch.
The home side looked the more likely in the final 10 minutes, with Adam Forshaw giving away a free kick just outside the box, but Alex Pritchard's delivery failed to clear the wall.
However, the visitors edged back in front midway through six minutes of stoppage time as Amorebieta fired the ball towards goal on the half-volley following a corner, with a deflection leaving Button stranded and giving the substitute his first goal for the club.
The sides will meet again at the Riverside next week with a place in the final at Wembley at stake.
Sian Cowper
