Middlesbrough were forced to roll up their sleeves as they scrapped their way into the FA Cup fifth round with a 2-0 win over League Two Mansfield.

South Korean Dong-Gook Lee opened the scoring, prodding home from close range in the first half, although the Premier League side were put under plenty of pressure in the second period.

But Boro weathered the storm manfully and put the game beyond the hosts with a late second on the break, Jake Buxton heading George Boateng's cross into his own net, under pressure from Stuart Downing.

Mansfield started well but were struggling with Boro's height and power at set pieces - and it was from a corner that the Teesider's took a 17th-minute lead.

The Stags defence could not deal with Johnson's inswinging corner, Lee Bell impeding goalkeeper Carl Muggleton as he tried to punch the ball clear.

David Wheater miskicked as he attempted a left-footed shot but the ball ran to Lee, who fired home from six yards to claim just his second goal for the club in his first year on Teesside.

The goal failed to deflate the home side, who continued to cause their Premier League opponents trouble, despite playing up hill and against a strong wind.

Michael Boulding, who has 15 goals already this season, hit the crossbar with a superb left-foot shot from 25 yards after cutting in at pace from the right, the former Villa striker bringing a fine save from Mark Schwarzer with a looping header from the resulting corner.

Lee missed a golden opportunity to double Boro's lead five minutes before the break when he somehow headed well wide from just six yards out after Jeremie Aliadiere had cut a cross back from the by-line.

Mansfield came out flying after the break, putting Wheater and Robert Huth under all sorts of pressure, with Matthew Hamshaw particularly dangerous down the right.

Boro boss Southgate responded by bringing on England winger Downing and striker Mido, making his first appearance after missing 14 games with a groin injury.

The Premier League side had a great chance to put the game beyond Mansfield when Julio Arca led a three-v-one counter-attack, but his attempted pass into the path of Lee Cattermole on the edge of the area was woefully overhit and the opportunity passed by tamely.

But Boro did finally manage to get the second goal to kill off the game, breaking from their own half before substitute George Boateng clipped a dangerous cross towards the back post, where Mansfield defender Jake Buxton headed into his own net, under pressure from Downing.

Alex Sharratt / Eurosport