Tuncay lifts Boro spirits

Turkey star Tuncay Sanli lifted Middlesbrough from the gloom of their Premier League survival scrap by firing the Teesiders into the last eight of the FA Cup on Wednesday.

Tuncay’s 20th-minute volley sealed a 2-0 win over West Ham after England midfielder Stewart Downing had given Boro an early lead in the 5th round replay at the Riverside.

Boro’s reward was a quarter-final trip to Everton and the outcome was never really in doubt against opponents who failed to live up to their recent form in the Premier League.

Downing got Boro off to the perfect start with a superbly struck free-kick and Tuncay effectively settled the contest when centreback James Tomkins hooked a clearance into his path.

Tuncay, who had not scored since the first week of December, controlled his volley superbly to beat Robert Green in the West Ham goal and there was to be no way back for the visitors.