MIDDLESBROUGH have dumped Premier League champions Manchester City out of the FA Cup after turning in a brilliant display at the Etihad Stadium.

Patrick Bamford, the young man on loan from Chelsea, was the scorer of the goal that put Boro on their way seven minutes after half-time but the Teessiders had match-winners all over the pitch to seal a place in the fifth round in front of 5,500-plus travelling supporters.

The forward’s tenth goal of the season could actually have been followed by a few more, with Middlesbrough showing exactly why they are regarded as one of the Championship’s promotion favourites.

And Middlesbrough were eventually further rewarded for their attacking endeavour with a second in stoppage time. Kike, a late substitution, slotted in a lovely finish after Bamford had teed him up.

City, prevented from scoring in the first half by a string of saves from goalkeeper Tomas Mejias, huffed and puffed but found Middlesbrough’s Daniel Ayala-inspired defence in excellent form.

Not even Frank Lampard’s introduction from the bench could level things up, even though he hit the post with a last minute effort from outside the box.

This, though, was Boro’s day.

Manchester City created plenty of chances in the first half but were unable to find a breakthrough because of Mejias’ performance. He pulled off a number of good saves to deny the light blue shirts’ advances.

As expected, City dominated possession, but whenever Middlesbrough gained control of the ball they cleverly slowed things down and then moved forward. Occasionally they had some good chances themselves.

Bamford had already found the net in the first half but it was ruled out for offside following a lovely, patient attack in which Lee Tomlin was at the centre of it all.

There were a few chances like that before the break, but by and large Mejias - who had very little to do after the restart - was the goalkeeper having to work the hardest.

Back in the team for a second FA Cup outing, the Spanish goalkeeper justified his inclusion with a solid performance that bodes well for the future and should fill him with confidence.

And, effectively, his first half saves laid the foundations for Boro’s brilliant second half – and the opening goal of the game in the 53rd minute.

Fernando’s awful back pass was chased down by Albert Adomah. The Ghanaian winger forced the ball to trickle beyond Willy Caballero and towards the empty net. Fernando raced back to rectify the situation, but his clearance hit Bamford and hit the net.

After that Middlesbrough created two further fantastic chances. After Adomah had chipped in to the hands of Caballero, Tomlin created something out of nothing.

He brought the ball down, spun around Vincent Kompany and then his shot hit the foot of the post and rolled to safety. It deserved a goal and was the type of goal normally associated with one of City’s expensively assembled forwards.

That prompted Manuel Pellegrini to turn to Frank Lampard for the last 23 minutes in the hope of salvaging something, but they still struggled to find a way through Boro’s excellent defensive line.

Middlesbrough still had chances, though. Jelle Vossen, who started ahead of Kike, had a volley well saved by Caballero after Adomah had picked him out at the back post.

And then Kike latched on to Bamford’s pass in stoppage time to send the 5,500-Middlesbrough fans crazy.

Manchester City (4-2-3-1): Caballero; Zabaleta, Kompany, Boyata, Kolarov; Fernando (Dzeko 78), Milner; Navas (Lampard 67), Silva, Jovetic (Fernandinho 67); Aguero. Subs: Hart (gk), Demichelis, Sagna, Clichy.

Middlesbrough (4-2-3-1): Mejias; Whitehead, Ayala, Gibson, Friend; Leadbitter, Clayton; Bamford (Wildschut 90), Tomlin, Adomah (Reach 81); Vossen (Kike 87). Subs: Ripley (gk), Husband, Omeruo, Woodgate.