Middlesbrough were dumped out of the FA Cup with relative ease by virtue of an imperious display from Manchester City. Boro huffed and puffed throughout the game and showed glimpses of threat but never mustered anything to cause Pep Guardiola too much concern.
Brad Guzan put in a fine performance in what could be his last in a Middlesbrough shirt and kept the score to a mere 2-0 when it could have been easily three times worse on another day. With arguments for the FA Cup being both a distraction and a reprieve from Premier League duty both valid, Aitor Karanka will have to take confidence from the rare moments his side did produce and take this forward into their crucial remaining league fixtures.