Brighton 0-3 Middlesbrough: Kike, Albert Adomah and Christian Stuani on target as Boro put end to Seagulls unbeaten run

Brighton 0-3 Middlesbrough: Kike, Albert Adomah and Christian Stuani on target as Boro put end to Seagulls unbeaten run DM.later('bundle', function() { DM.has('back-to-top', 'FloatingButtons'); }); Kike opened the scoring for Middlesbrough with a fourth-minute headerAlbert Adomah doubled Boro's lead turning in Daniel Ayala's effortChristian Stuani completed the rout to hand Brighton first defeat of seasonJose Mourinho was present to see Boro go three points clear at the top By Sam Cunningham for The Mail on Sunday

Published: 14:30 GMT, 19 December 2015 | Updated: 22:01 GMT, 19 December 2015

By the end, Jose Mourinho was unable to inspire his Chelsea squad out of the depths, but his presence as a guest of Aitor Karanka sparked Middlesbrough to a sparkling win against Championship title rivals Brighton.

The former Chelsea manager was sat high in the stands to watch his friend Karanka, his No 2 for three years at Real Madrid, record a victory against a Brighton side unbeaten all season in the league.

Middlesbrough have been renowned for their defensive record this season — they are now 547 minutes without conceding in the league, more than nine hours— but their three goals blew the Seagulls away for the first time this season.

Christian Stuani celebrates scoring Middlesbrough's third goal to end Brighton's unbeaten record

Kike gave Middlesbrough the lead when he stooped to head Adomah's cross past David Stockdale

Kike celebrates with Stuart Downing after giving Middlesbrough the lead with less than four minutes played

Brighton's Dale Stephens clears the ball acrobatically under pressure from Middelsbrough's Kike

Karanka kept it from his players that Mourinho was coming, but all the talk ahead of kick-off was that he was at the ground. 

'He brought us luck,' Karanka said. 'He was in the changing room with us [after the game]. He said congratulations. He told us that he's watched a really good team. He knows our team because he follows us a lot, but he was impressed because we were really organised.' 

Asked if he would tempt Mourinho to join his coaching staff, Karanka replied: 'I don't have the money enough and I don't have a lot of things to bring him. He was the best, he is the best and he will be the best.'

Five minutes was all it took to open the scoring. Albert Adomah outwitted Rajiv van La Parra with two step-overs on the left flank, before cutting back on to his favoured right foot and sending in an in-swinging cross to the near post.

Kike, who had not scored since August, had gambled and got across his man with a run, enabling him to beat the Brighton defender to the ball and head in. 

It was just the start Chris Hughton's side did not want. Middlesbrough are a tough side to crack this season and the last thing they needed was to concede an early goal. 

A clearly buoyed Boro extended their lead two minutes before the break. Grant Leadbitter sent in a right-hand side corner towards the penalty spot and it was met by Ayala. 

Jose Mourinho (right) was at the Amex Stadium to support his friend, Middlesbrough boss Aitor Karanka

Adam Clayton (left) challenges Brighton's Jamie Murphy during the first half of Middlesbrough's 3-0 win

Karanka's side moved three points clear of their opponents at the top of the Championship with the victory

Brighton (4-4-2): Stockdale; Bruno, Huenemier (Goldson 60), Greer, Calderon; Van La Parra, Stephens, Kayal, Murphy (Crofts 74); Wilson, Hemed (Zamora 74)

Subs not used:  Maenpaa, Manu, Ince, Chicksen

Middlesbrough (4-2-3-1): Konstantopoulus; Nsue, Ayala, Gibson, Friend; Leadbitter, Clayton (Zuculini 84); Adomah, Stuani, Downing; Kike (Fabbrini 65)

Subs not used: Amorebieta, De Pena, Mejias,  Kalas, Foreshaw 

Goals: Kike 4, Adomah 43, Stuani 62

Booked: Leadbitter 

Att: 26,445

Referee Craig Pawson

Daniel Ayala heads the ball towards goal before Adomah gets the final touch to score Middlesbrough's second

The defender headed powerfully towards goal, it flicked off Brighton defender Bruno Saltor's head and came off Adomah last on its way in. 

They made it three, just after the hour. Stewart Downing swung in a left-hand-side corner, the ball came out to Kike who hit a shot towards the far left post and into a crowd of bodies. Christian Stuani was there first to nod it in from close range.

Brighton showed flashes of why they were not beaten in 21 games this season leading up to the fixture.

On 56 minutes, Tom Hemed was in space on the left of the penalty area and hit a low shot, across goal, which was tipped wide by Dimitrios Konstantopoulos. 

Adomah congratulates Ayala after they combined to make it 2-0 just before half time

Stuani was perfectly placed to head home Kike's shot-cum-cross from close range to seal the win

The Uruguayan's goal just after the hour mark made sure the Boro would go three points clear at the top

The ball remained in play and a well-worked passing move found Jamie Murphy in a similar position to the one Hemed had just had a go from. This time he went high, but the Boro goalkeeper tipped it over the bar. 

'I have told the players we have to move on quickly,' Hughton said. 'We have been on such a good run but have caught Middlesbrough after two very tough away games.

'And Middlesbrough showed why they are where they are. They are the team everybody fancied at the start of the season and showed that in the important areas of the pitch, they were better than us.'

As Mourinho was whisked away from the stadium in a Bentley after the match the Boro fans chanted that he is now Karanka's No 2.

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