Daryl Murphy came off the bench to secure Sunderland's Barclays Premier League status with an injury-time winner at the Stadium of Light.

The Irishman glanced Grant Leadbitter's corner past goalkeeper Brad Jones to win a pulsating encounter after Afonso Alves looked to have snatched a draw with a 73rd-minute equaliser.

Tuncay had given Boro a fourth-minute lead, but Danny Higginbotham levelled within two minutes before Michael Chopra struck in first-half injury time.

Despite scoring twice, Boro will have been left to rue missed opportunities.

Stewart Downing had a glorious chance to draw his side level with 20 minutes remaining after Boateng picked him out beyond the far post, but Boro's leading scorer mis-hit his left-foot volley wide.

The winger found himself in on goal once again three minutes later, but was denied by blocks from Whitehead and then Gordon.

But Boro finally drew level with 17 minutes remaining when Julio Arca's shot was partially blocked and ran to Alves, who took advantage of a tight offside decision to slide the ball inside the far post for his third goal for the club.

Murphy replaced Chopra five minutes from time, and it was the Irishman who got ahead of Jones to glance Leadbitter's injury-time corner home to win it at the death.