Julio Arca headed straight at Brad Friedel before Gary O'Neill's fierce drive deflected off Tuncay and narrowly over the bar.

BBC: Middlesbrough 1-1 Aston Villa

Sunderland should have re-taken the lead shortly after, but Julio Arca's cross was headed against the bar by Carl Robinson.

BBC: SPORT | Football | English Div 1 | Wimbledon 1-2 Sunderland

Julio Arca's left-foot drive clipped the outside of a post and then Damien Delaney brilliantly made a block to deny Viduka.

BBC: By Jonathan Stevenson

Marcus Bent headed wide from a Julio Arca cross and Gary O'Neil also went close as the Teessiders looked to respond.

BBC: Middlesbrough 0-1 Plymouth

But Boro levelled in the 21st minute when Julio Arca's pass deflected off City defender Leon Barnett past wrong-footed keeper John Ruddy.

BBC: Middlesbrough 1-1 Norwich

Wheater had a great chance to break the deadlock in the seventh minute, but his free header from Julio Arca's corner bounced tamely wide.

BBC: SPORT | Football | Premiership | Middlesbrough 3-1 Fulham

The visitors threw on Argentine Julio Arca on the hour to add some steel to their midfield, while David Cotterill replaced Mark Gower for the Swans.

BBC: Swansea 1-0 Middlesbrough

And they were made to pay when Julio Arca picked out Emnes' run through the middle and the Dutchman calmly tucked his shot inside Simonsen's far post to move Boro 11 points clear of the relegation zone.

BBC: Sheff Utd 1-2 Middlesbrough

The Posh keeper was increasingly involved and although he stopped a strike from Julio Arca, the England Under-21 stopper could not prevent Kitson from slotting home the rebound as Middlesbrough took the lead just after the half-hour mark.

BBC: Peterborough 2-2 Middlesbrough