Tuncay snatches victory for Boro

The Teessiders looked to have squandered two points having wasted a series of chances, including a 64th-minute Stewart Downing penalty, when Justin Hoyte's own goal cancelled out Afonso Alves' opener.

But the Potters, who had Amdy Faye sent off after 35 minutes, succumbed five minutes from time when Tuncay fired past Thomas Sorensen to snatch the 2-1 victory.

Alves made the most of Faye's wild challenge on Mohamed Shawky by firing the resulting free-kick past Sorensen to give Boro the lead in the 37th minute.

Former Newcastle midfielder Faye had launched himself at Shawky as the pair closed on a loose ball.

The travelling fans behind Sorensen's goal could not believe that referee Mike Dean produced a red card and made their feelings abundantly clear.

However, television replays showed the midfielder had left the ground and gone in with both feet in a rash rather than malicious style and left the official with no option.

England international Downing should have wrapped up the win with his penalty, but his fierce strike hit the bar and rebounded to safety.

Boro could not kill the Potters off and when defender Hoyte turned Liam Lawrence's cross into his own net with 19 minutes remaining, the visitors looked to have got their reward for a committed display in front of a crowd of 27,627.

But Stoke's resistance was finally broken with five minutes remaining when Tuncay controlled Didier Digard's mis-hit shot and fired past the stranded Sorensen to pinch the win.