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Emilio Nsue's second-half goal earned a scrappy win over Burnley as Middlesbrough overtook Brighton at the top of the Championship.

George Boyd had the best chance of the first half for the Clarets but his low shot was saved by Dimitrios Konstantopoulos at the near post.

Nsue broke the deadlock when he turned in Adam Forshaw's low cross.

Boro kept a seventh clean sheet in eight games and are ahead of Brighton, who they face next, on goal difference.

The Seagulls slipped behind Aitor Karanka's side after they let a two-goal lead slip at QPR.

Middlesbrough, without suspended striker David Nugent, struggled to break down a dogged Burnley, who have not won in six games but remain fifth in the league.

Nsue's second goal of the season proved a crucial intervention to earn Boro an eighth home win of the season.

Substitute Cristhian Stuani and Albert Adomah could have wrapped it up for the hosts late on, but poor finishing and a good Tom Heaton save kept it at 1-0.

Middlesbrough boss Aitor Karanka: "Our performance maybe wasn't the best and not the nicest to watch but it's nice to look at the table and see us at the top. It means we're doing a good job. But we need to be there at the end of the season.

"It took me three days to decide the team. I asked my staff about who to play in the first XI, and all of them gave me four different team sheets. Mine was different but the players who played did really well in terms of their attitude."

Burnley manager Sean Dyche: "We've won nine out of 12 before this, so we know how to win games, it has deserted us for the moment.

"There are a lot of runners and riders this season but we think we're among that. We think we're close, but the margins are so fine at the top end of this division.

"Tonight we played with calmness and assuredness, but we just let ourselves down in the final third."