There's some promising signs here for Boro. Waspish in midfield, they're keeping Palace under pressure and have had pretty much all of the play since Zaha's goal. It's just not connecting up top. 

Alvaro Negredo's caught by James Ward's arm as the two chase a loose ball - Boro's Spanish striker's wound up with a cut above his eye and is getting treatment on the pitch. Totally fair challenge, just bad luck.

Frustration. Gaston Ramirez has only been on the pitch five minutes and he's already in the book for giving the ref an earful. He thought he should have had a corner - the replay shows it was clearly Jason Puncheon who knocked it behind. Goal kick.

Safe hands to gather from Scott Dann's header from Victor Valdes. But again there were holes in the Boro back line as Jason Puncheon's central free-kick was floated in.

Two changes for Boro to build on Gibson's unlikely rallying cry.

Gaston Ramirez comes on for Viktor Fischer in attacking midfield. 

Marten de Roon is on for Adam Clayton in the centre of the park.

What?! Ben Gibson, the Boro centre-back, on his left foot, hammers one from range that has Steve Mandanda really scrabbling. The Palace keeper just manages to turn it over for a corner.

Ooohf! Stewart Downing fancies grabbing this by the scruff of the neck. He fires a left-footed zinger that just sails over the Palace frame. Steve Mandanda was soaring across his goal - and would have been nowhere near it had Downing match accuracy with power.

Well then. That was a gift. No two ways about it. Will Palace be so easily undone again themselves? As they were for Boro's equaliser? 

Come on, if you're giving them away, let's have a seven-goal thriller.

Kevin Kilbane
Former Everton and Sunderland winger on Final Score

Boro are very much a defensive side and they usually like to sit on their leads. But it's another defensive mistake, although it's great muscle and intent from Zaha.

We are back under way.

Here we go then. Boro's players are out last, no changes from either side.

What an end to the first half! 

Viktor Fischer nicks the ball off Jason Puncheon on the halfway line, plays in Alvaro Negredo who's got time to think about his shot as he bears down on goal from an angle... 

Saved by the legs of Steve Mandanda and over!

Not too many players more popular than Ben Gibson on Teesside. He channels Sol Campbell in 1998 as he tears beyond the halfway line.

Antonio Barragan is suddenly played in behind the back four, he can pick a man out at the back stick... but Steve Mandanda does brilliantly to read it and scoop the ball from the air.

One minute added on.

Any more for any more? 

Two minutes before the break. The perfect time to score.

Now we've a game on. 

Andros Townsend whips a free-kick into the Boro box, it's panic stations before Adam Clayton digs it out from a bundle of red and yellow bodies. 

Then James McArthur rises at the back stick to meet a cross and wins a corner, which eventually falls to James Ward who booms over.

Kevin Kilbane
Former Everton and Sunderland winger on Final Score

Great header! Boro have sat back too much and have invited pressure, but they are so dangerous from dead-ball situations. And what leap and power from Ayala.

Christian Benteke's a far happier star striker. The first goal for his new club wouldn't be out of place on a highlights reel of his best goals at Aston Villa. A vulgar display of power.

And it's the game's defining moment so far. Middlesbrough struggling to make this a conversation.

Awkward. Antonio Barragan and Viktor Fischer try a one-two in their own half under pressure and it all goes wrong. Possession handed away as the ball goes out for a throw.

Alvaro Negredo lifts his arms and lets them fall heavily. Frustration on the halfway line.