Albion kept their play-off push firmly on course with an ultimately convincing 2-0 win at Middlesbrough today.

Andrea Orlandi and David scored second-half goals to send the Seagulls into fifth place in the Championship.

Orlandi opened the scoring on the hour with a precise left-foot finish after David and Dean Hammond linked down the right.

Gordon Greer made a couple of key defensive interventions before Albion doubled their lead with a moment of subtlety on 76 minutes.

Liam Bridcutt sent David beyond an exposed defence to calmly chip over the advanced goalkeeper Jason Steele.

Casper Ankergren, replacing the injured Tomasz Kuszczak, will have been delighted with his assured clean sheet.

He was extended once in a dull first half, diving low to his left to hold a well struck drive from Richard Smallwood.