Middlesbrough 3-0 Sheffield Wednesday

Ten-man Middlesbrough made it into the FA Cup fourth round with a win over Championship side Sheffield Wednesday.

Defender Daniel Ayala was sent off seconds after Grant Leadbitter's opener for hauling down Fernando Forestieri.

Captain Leadbitter had put the Premier League side ahead after the break when he curled a free-kick into the corner.

And Boro doubled their lead within 10 minutes when Alvaro Negredo deflected goalkeeper Joe Wildsmith's poor clearance into the empty Owls net.

Marten de Roon added a late third when he smashed in from the edge of the penalty area.

Negredo key to Boro

Alvaro Negredo celebrates after closing down Joe Wildsmith's clearance

Middlesbrough boast one of the Premier League's better defensive records so far this campaign, but they have scored the joint-fewest goals in the top flight and have relied heavily on the threat provided by top scorer Negredo.

The former Manchester City striker has scored five of Boro's 17 goals in the competition, prompting boss Aitor Karanka to bring in attacking reinforcements in the shape of Rudy Gestede earlier this week.

Both sides struggled to break the deadlock in the first half and were unable to register a shot on target, but Negredo's work-rate was key after the break as he charged down a dithering Wildsmith to grab his sixth goal of the season.

Gestede, who arrives at the Riverside from Aston Villa, did not get a chance to make his debut from the bench, but his new team-mates showed a clinical streak to finish off the Owls in the second half.

Boro's priority will of course remain securing their place in the Premier League for next season, but Karanka will take heart from his side's performance after going a man down with more than half-an-hour to play.

Wednesday's Premier League dress rehearsal?

Owls fans would have been hoping their side would show they can mix it with Premier League opposition when they were drawn against Middlesbrough in the third round.

The promotion hopefuls went close to making a top-flight return for the first time since they were relegated in 2000 when they lost to Hull City in the play-off final last season, and are on course for a play-offs return this year.

A promising first 45 minutes, where the Championship outfit enjoyed the greater share of possession and rarely looked like getting broken down, was undone in 10 second-half minutes.

The momentum looked to have swung Wednesday's way when Ayala was sent off shortly after the opener.

But Wildsmith's error put Middlesbrough firmly in control and an Owls side that included ex-Premier League forward Steven Fletcher were unable to threaten a comeback.

'A typical cup game'

Middlesbrough boss Aitor Karanka: "The FA Cup is really important to us and if we had played the second half in the same way (as the first) we would have lost.

"It was typical cup game. We had to play better and be more aggressive and in the second half we showed we are better than them.

"We won the game because we were organised, committed and when the chances arrived we scored."

Sheffield Wednesday manager Carlos Carvalhal: "We lose together, we win together. It was strange the way we conceded the first and second goals but congratulations to Middlesbrough.

"We accept mistakes. It happens in football, but we trust in Joe (Wildsmith). He is a very good goalkeeper and has a very bright future."