CRYSTAL Palace last night ended Middlesbrough’s proud unbeaten run by winning an entertaining Carling Cup third round tie 2-1 at Selhurst Park.

Boro went into the tie having last lost at Burnley in April and had won their eight previous away games.

Manager Tony Mowbray had promised to utilise his squad ahead of the tie and was as good as his word.

He made seven changes from the side which kicked off Saturday’s 1-0 win at Palace, including a new midfield quartet with Kevin Thomson making his first start of the season after finally recovering from an operation on a leg fracture.

The Boro boss named skipper Matthew Bates on the bench while left-back Joe Bennett had to serve the suspension he picked up following his sending off on Saturday.

Goalkeeper Carl Ikeme has been sitting out Boro’s cup ties as a condition of his loan from Wolves and Danny Coyne, who was his side’s man of the match in their second-round win at Peterborough, stepped in again last night – putting in another outstanding display.

Alex Nimely, a loan signing from Manchester City, made his debut in attack, replacing top scorer Marvin Emnes.

Palace boss Dougie Freedman went one better, making eight changes with right winger Wilfried Zaha, who tormented Boro in a 25-minute cameo on Saturday, the most notable addition – though he lined up on the left.

Boro were bidding to reach the last 16 of the League Cup for the first time since the 2005/06 season and looked bright in the opening exchanges, Arca heavily involved in an unfamiliar position on the right.

The Argentinian went on a penetrating run in the second minute, cutting in from the right but, from a tight angle, poked a left-foot shot across the face of the goal.