Fabio's fabulous free-kick finishes off Northampton

13 April 2012

Fabio Rochemback spared Middlesbrough's blushes with a wonderful free-kick to sink Stuart Gray's brave Northampton Town.

Until the midfielder struck a 35- yarder for his first goal of the season in the 53rd minute, the Premier League side were floundering against a team who had enjoyed the game's best chances.

Middlesbroughs Fabio Rochemback tangles with Northamptons Joe Burnell

And once the breakthrough had been made, Dong-Gook Lee made sure his team progressed to the next round with a 25-yard strike in the 66th minute.

The Carling Cup may be the only competition Boro have won and he was the captain who lifted the trophy, but the competition is proving a difficult quest for Gareth Southgate.

The Boro boss rested Mark Schwarzer, Julio Arca, Jonathan Woodgate and George Boateng, but still he found his side's League One opponents an awkward proposition.

And after finally seeing Nigeria striker Yakubu complete his £11.25million switch to Everton, the former England defender, who has been linked with Adriano, Afonso Alves and Manchester City's Georgios Samaras, again saw why attacking reinforcements can't arrive soon enough.

Fortunately for Boro, Rochemback broke the deadlock with his sizzling free-kick after Lee had been hauled down and then the South Korean himself added to plucky Northampton's woes with his first goal for the club.

Tuncay Sanli was played into the area for a one-on-one with Northampton keeper Mark Bunn in the opening seconds, only for the former Fenerbahce striker to slice wide.

In the sixth minute, Lee had an excellent chance to score his first Boro goal from Stewart Downing's deep cross, but instead he headed wide.

The early opportunities set the tone and winger Adam Johnson, also given a chance to start, twice flashed shots across Bunn's goal, while recalled Lee Cattermole shot wide.

England winger Downing, who was a surprise starter, created a chance for Johnson which the teenager lofted into the stands.

But for stand-in keeper Brad Jones, Northampton — without a win in the league — could have gone into the break in front.

Jones saved well from the impressive Bradley Johnson, before Ian Henderson hit the rebound against a post.

And the big Aussie keeper got his chest in the way of a drive from Alex Dyer.

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