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By David Ornstein
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 Middlesbrough are into the last eight for the fourth season running
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Middlesbrough produced an inspired attacking display to beat West Ham in their FA Cup fifth-round replay and set up a trip to Everton in the last eight.
The hosts made a fine start and took the lead when Stewart Downing curled a stunning free-kick into the top corner.
The Hammers were rugged in possession and Tuncay Sanli volleyed in a second after James Tomkins failed to clear.
David di Michele wasted an opening for West Ham but Boro could have extended their lead and were worthy winners.
The Hammers have now gone five matches without a win but this defeat enables them to now focus solely on their Premier League campaign.
Manager Gianfranco Zola will be concerned at how easily his team's defence was penetrated time and again, although as the match wore on they showed impressive glimpses going forward.
Middlesbrough's victory brings to an end a five-match winless run in all competitions and they are into the quarter-finals of the FA Cup for the fourth season running.
Boro had failed to score in five of their last seven games but they looked dangerous from the outset and Gareth Southgate's attack-minded formation paid dividends.
The Boro manager named Downing and Gary O'Neil on the left and right wings respectively and recalled Jeremie Aliadiere and Tuncay up front.
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606: DEBATE
tom_williamson
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West Ham's 4-4-2 formation, with Freddie Sears starting his first match in over three months and Radoslav Kovac making his debut in central midfield, simply encouraged the hosts to flood forward.
And when Kovac felled Tuncay on the Middlesbrough right, 25 yards from goal, Downing stepped up to send a magnificent effort past Robert Green via the angle of post and crossbar.
Boro went in search of a second and Downing zipped a shot narrowly wide after Matthew Upson's suicidal cross-field pass was intercepted.
O'Neill then sent a fizzing aerial ball forward and James Tomkins succeeded only in hooking his clearance to the on-rushing Tuncay, who fired convincingly past Green.
Backed by a healthy travelling support, which was bussed up to Teesside by the club, West Ham eventually tested Boro goalkeeper Brad Jones when Kovac shot low following Herita Ilunga's burst into the penalty area.
Attempting to stay true to their manager's philosophy, West Ham showed their ability to put together fluid passages of play and Hoyte was forced to make a vital interception as Kovac primed himself to convert Carlton Cole's centre.
 Parker had a glorious chance to get one back for West Ham
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Boro came close to extending their advantage before half-time as O'Neil's deep cross from the right was played back by Downing, only for Tuncay to blast high over the bar.
With West Ham desperate to work their way back into the match and Boro hungry for more goals, the second period got off to a pulsating start.
Aliadiere saw an effort deflected narrowly wide and Green caught well to prevent O'Neil scoring after a slick exchange between Aliadiere and Tuncay.
At the other, Sears and Mark Noble came close to breaking through Boro's impressive defensive wall and, having introduced Jack Collison and Di Michele, West Ham continued to probe.
The visitors might have been level on the hour mark had Scott Parker's left-footed drive from Di Michele's throughball not squirmed just wide of the post.
Parker's influence began to grow but, with Boro all too willing to get forward when in possession, West Ham could ill afford to neglect defensive duties.
Green foiled Aliadiere expertly when the Frenchman was played through by O'Neil, Matthew Bates saw a long-range drive tipped over and Tuncay's deflected shot ran marginally wide.
But those misses proved insignificant and Boro now travel to Goodison Park with a place in the semi-finals and a trip to Wembley at stake.
Middlesbrough: Jones, Hoyte, Wheater, Huth, Pogatetz, O'Neil, Bates, Arca (Walker 88), Downing, Sanli (Adam Johnson 81), Aliadiere (Emnes 67).
Subs Not Used: Turnbull, Taylor, Alves, McMahon.
Booked: O'Neil.
Goals: Downing 5, Sanli 20.
West Ham: Green, Neill, Tomkins, Upson, Ilunga, Behrami, Parker, Noble (Collison 56), Kovac (Tristan 69), Cole, Sears (Di Michele 57).
Subs Not Used: Lastuvka, Lopez, Nsereko, Spector.
Booked: Behrami.
Att: 15,602
Ref: Steve Bennett (Kent).
BBC Sport Player Rater man of the match: Middlesbrough's Stewart Downing with 8.48 (on 90 minutes).
Please note that you can still give the players marks out of 10 on BBC Sport's Player Rater after the match has finished.
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