Middlesbrough's blushes were spared by a late Cristhian Stuani goal to settle a five-goal thriller at the Riverside. Spirited Oxford United bounced back with a double salvo after looking dead and buried at the break as the balance of the match was turned upside down. Boro recovered their composure and, with the introduction of Alvaro Negredo and Gaston Ramirez, were able to turn the tie back in their favour and struck late as Stuani slotted home the goal to win 3-2 and send them to the quarterfinal of the FA Cup.
Positives
Stewart Downing returned to the starting lineup to great effect and he ran the show from the middle of the park.