Charlton boss Alan Curbishley was hugely disappointed after his side bowed out of the FA Cup on a dramatic evening in the North East on Wednesday.

The longserving boss watched his fast-starting side fall behind to Fabio Rochemback's long-range free-kick but saw Bryan Hughes quickly restore parity.

After Mark Schwarzer brilliantly foiled Darren Bent, James Morrison restored Boro's lead in the 25th minute - and the game looked up when Jimmy Floyd Hasselbaink crashed home from the edge of the box 19 minutes from time.

But the Addicks, buoyed by a massive 5,250 fans, gave themselves a glimmer of hope thanks to an own goal from Gareth Southgate, only for Mark Viduka to finally extinguish their hopes moments later.

Addressing the press after the game, Curbishley said: "We just couldn't get a foothold in the game.

"We started the game well and I was really pleased but we didn't get the goal we deserved.

"I was disappointed with the free-kick and having got ourselves back into it we conceded a really scrappy goal for their second.

"We had to go for it in the second half and when it opened up you saw the consequences.”

The boss praised the in-form hosts adding: "Well done to Middlesbrough. Perhaps they did the job at The Valley.

"We've come here and given it our best shot but it wasn't good enough. We just couldn't get near their forwards.”

And finally, there was also praise for the huge travelling support whose pilgrimage by air, road and rail proved ultimately in vain.

Alan added: "We're all disappointed for them as they came here and did fantastically well for us.

"We wanted to send them home happy but it wasn't to be, that's football.”