Albion’s winless run in the Championship stretched to eight games with a 2-1 defeat to a slick Middlesbrough side at the Amex.

The visitors looked strong, well organised and took their chances when they came.

Sami Hyypia’s Seagulls welcomed back Sam Baldock from injury but lacked punch as an attacking unit despite enjoying plenty of possession.

Goals from Lee Tomlin and Albert Adomah early in each half decided the contest.

Gordon Greer’s header two minutes from time came too late for the Seagulls who were left to rue missed chances just before each of Middlesbrough’s goals.

The game began with a flurry of activity, with referee Andy D’Urso rightly waving away a penalty appeal from the visitors on five minutes as Lee Tomlin went down far too easily under challenge from David Stockdale.

Gary Gardner then had a good chance for Albion but failed to get a proper connection with Inigo Calderon’s inviting cross.

The deadlock was broken on eight minutes as Adam Reach got away down the left for Boro and pulled the ball back for Tomlin to sidefoot a smart finish into the top corner.

Albion enjoyed a lot of possession from there on without really looking threatening.

Danny Holla curled an effort past an upright from Kazenga LuaLua’s cross, Calderon’s penalty appeal was rightly turned down and then the full-back had a shot from the edge of the area blocked by George Friend.

Joao Teixeira was forced off after 30 minutes, looking groggy from a first-minute aerial challenge by Friend who was later booked for another foul on Albion’s young Portuguese loanee.

Fellow full-back Ryan Fredericks was also cautioned in the first half, along with Gardner for a foul on Friend.

Albion made a second change at the break with striker Chris O’Grady on for midfielder Holla which forced a switch of positions.

Five minutes into the half substitute Paddy McCourt went on a mazy run from the edge of the centre half, beating three players before firing just wide.

However, Boro took a greater grip on proceedings with a second goal on 53 minutes. Centre-back Daniel Ayala found space down the right, his centre was met first time by Albert Adomah whose initial effort was saved by Stockdale at his near post but the winger forced home the rebound.

The Seagulls rarely looked like finding a way back into the game and when a goal came it was too late, Greer heading home at the back post on 88 minutes after Adrian Colunga flicked on a McCourt corner.

Albion: Stockdale; Calderon, Greer, Dunk, Bennett; Holla (sub O’Grady 46), Gardner, Forster-Caskey (sub Colunga 77); Teixeira (sub McCourt 30), Baldock, LuaLua. Subs not used: Hughes, Chicksen, Ince, Walton.

Middlesbrough: Konstantopoulos; Fredericks, Ayala, Gibson, Friend; Adomah (sub Nsue 84), Leadbitter, Clayton (sub Whitehead 60), Reach; Tomlin (sub Vossen 46), Kiki. Subs not used: Wildschut, Bamford, Velijkovic, Blackman.