Middlesbrough have booked their place in the second round of the League Cup courtesy of a 3-0 victory over a spirited Oldham Athletic at Boundary Park.
The match began at a frenetic pace, with chances at either end of the field in the opening exchanges.
Lee Croft fired over after just five seconds for the hosts, before both Emilio Nsue and Christian Stuani failed to make the most of sights of goal.
Boro looked like opening the scoring in the seventh minute when David Cornell brought down Diego Fabbrini inside the box, but the Oldham keeper made amends to deny Adam Clayton from the spot.
The chances kept coming in an action-packed opening 10 minutes, with Danny Philliskirk and Jonathan Forte both threatening for the hosts in quick succession.
Fabbrini was then denied by Cornell when through on goal, but the opener did eventually come when Yanic Wildschut raced on to an Albert Adomah through-ball before sliding the ball under the keeper.
That goal appeared to knock some of the stuffing out of the hosts, and they found themselves two behind at the break courtesy of Stuani's first goal for the club, nodding home Fabbrini's cross.
Darren Kelly's men made another bright start to the second half as they went in search of a lifeline, but neither Carl Winchester nor Philliskirk could find a way past the keeper from outside the box.
Jake Cassidy then took too long to get a shot away when in behind the defence, and that proved to be fateful as Boro put the game to bed with a third goal just two minutes later, Stuani doubling his personal tally by tucking home James Husband's cross at the back post.
The League One side, who have failed to reach the second round of this competition since 2008, refused to give up, but saw another chance go begging in the 64th minute when neither Philliskirk nor Croft could find a way through after good work from David Dunn.
Dunn came close himself in the final minute of normal time when his powerful 25-yard drive was tipped over, and the hosts did get a late consolation when Philliskirk nodded home deep into injury time.
It was far too little too late, however, as Boro coasted into the second round at the hands of Oldham for the second year running.
Barney Corkhill
