Middlesbrough boss Chris Wilder reacts as Boro make it through to FA Cup fourth round

Middlesbrough manager Chris Wilder was a relieved man as his side scraped into the FA Cup fourth round with a stoppage-time goal to win 3-2 after a terrific tie at League Two Mansfield.
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Championship side Boro were 2-0 up inside 14 minutes but Stags roared back to level after the break only for John-Joe O’Toole to put through his own goal in the fifth added minute.

“I have to give an enormous amount of credit to Mansfield Town – the manager, the players and the supporters,” said Wilder.

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“It’s a difficult one for them when they go 2-0 down but their team rallied and I knew, without sounding clever, this was going to be a really difficult afternoon for us. So it proved to be.

Middlesbrough manager Chris Wilder. (Photo by Jan Kruger/Getty Images)Middlesbrough manager Chris Wilder. (Photo by Jan Kruger/Getty Images)
Middlesbrough manager Chris Wilder. (Photo by Jan Kruger/Getty Images)

“The result is the main thing and we’ve come through a really tough tie that epitomised what the FA Cup is all about.

“Any Championship team would have struggled today.

“We were up against a manager who has got history with cup upsets, a team on a fabulous run, a vocal home support, and a team that has nothing to lose against a team that has everything to lose.

“It was a huge test for us as a football club and we have come through it with a mix and match team.

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“I think people up and down the country would have tipped this game as a potential result for Mansfield.”

Uche Ikpeazu gave Boro a fourth-minute lead with a brilliant solo effort, shrugging off two defenders before finding the top left corner from outside the box.

Debut-making Caolan Boyd-Munce turned in a low Lee Peltier cross after 14 minutes and Boro were in control.

But Stags dominated the second half and missed some good chances before Oli Hawkins headed home a Stephen Quinn cross with 67 minutes gone.

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Danny Johnson had an effort ruled out for offside before Rhys Oates broke clear and rounded the keeper to level after 85 minutes.

But, at the death, O’Toole turned a low Isaiah Jones cross past his own keeper.

Stags boss Nigel Clough was disappointed to be knocked out of the FA Cup.