Stoke increase pressure on Boro

The defender escaped his marker to deflect Rory Delap's long throw into the far corner of the net.

Stoke had carved out the best of few chances created, and the result increased the pressure on Boro, who have failed to score in seven of their last nine league matches.

Stoke had an early chance when James Beattie forced a reaction one-handed save from Brad Jones after Salif Diao headed the ball goalwards.

Tuncay almost snatched the lead for Boro when he cut in from the left and unleashed a fierce shot which dipped onto the top of the net.

Both sides made positive substitutions in the second half, Matthew Etherington coming on for Diao and Afonso Alves for Marlon King.

Middlesbrough's Brazilian was soon involved in a build-up which resulted in Gary O'Neil forcing Thomas Sorensen into a fine save.

O'Neil's low free-kick then found its way to Tuncay at the far post but faced with a narrow angle he drilled into the side-netting, and Beattie was also off target volleying over.

In the 72nd minute Beattie headed over the best chance he had seen all afternoon when Liam Lawrence weaved his way into the penalty area and crossed to the far post.

But the breakthrough finally came six minutes from time from a familiar source. Delap hurled a right-wing throw into the penalty area and Shawcross escaped his marker to deflect the ball into the far corner of the net.