Zemmama makes Saints wait

Merouane Zemmama struck a second-half winner as Middlesbrough came from behind to secure a 2-1 victory and keep their npower Championship play-off hopes alive.

First, Adam Lallana cushioned a header into the path of Rickie Lambert. His first touch was heavy but the second deadly, laying the ball into the path of Billy Sharp who could not miss. But Middlesbrough gave their play-off hopes a boost in first-half injury time. A Barry Robson cross was headed out into the path of Nicky Bailey, who let fly with a left-foot volley that found Kelvin Davis' bottom left corner via a Richard Chaplow deflection. And it was Middlesbrough who sealed victory 13 minutes from time, with a goal worthy of winning any game. Jose Fonte was penalised for holding back Lukas Jutkiewicz and from the resulting free-kick, Zemmama curled a beautiful free-kick into the top left corner. The result leaves Tony Mowbray's side two points behind sixth-placed Cardiff with one game to play, while Southampton remain second, needing a win in their last game to guarantee promotion.