Brentford beat Middlesbrough 2-1 at the Brentford Community Stadium to reach the FA Cup Fourth Round for the third consecutive season.
The Bees started on the front foot and went close with Tariqe Fosu flashing an effort wide in the fourth minute.
The lively Fosu then stole the ball on the halfway line and drove at the Boro defence before feeding Halil Dervisoglu who could only find the side netting from eight yards out.
However, Dervisoglu redeemed himself by opening the scoring in the 35th minute – Saman Ghoddos’ outswinging corner somehow landing at his feet on the penalty spot with the forward steering a controlled volley past the stranded Jordan Archer.
The second-half saw Middlesbrough start brightly, equalising three minutes after the interval as substitute Sam Folarin tapped into an open net after Patrick Roberts’ deflected shot fell into his path.
Brentford regained the lead in the 64th minute though after a lovely one touch passing move ended with Dervisoglu finding Ghoddos who broke through the lines, cut inside the defender and curled his effort home.
Middlesbrough pushed for an equaliser late on but were unable to beat the excellent Luke Daniels in the Brentford goal.