Middlesbrough confirmed they will be top of the Championship at Christmas by winning at Brighton and ending the Seagulls' unbeaten start to the season.
Chris Hughton's side had previously gone 21 league games without defeat.
Kike's first goal since 18 August, a near-post header from Albert Adomah's fourth-minute cross, put Boro in front.
Adomah diverted in Daniel Ayala's header to make it 2-0 at half-time and Cristhian Stuani nodded in from close range after the break to seal victory.
Leaders Middlesbrough are three points clear of Brighton, who will surrender second place in the table if either Hull or Derby win on Saturday.
The home side's failure to deal with crosses proved to be their undoing, with all three of Middlesbrough's goals coming from centres into the box.
Brighton struggled to break through a resolute Boro defence, which kept their 12th clean sheet in 22 league outings this term and has not conceded a goal in any of their last six Championship matches.
Brighton 0-3 Middlesbrough as it happened
The pundit's view
Former West Bromwich Albion striker Jason Roberts on BSports Radio 5 live: "Brighton could have been a bit more decisive. Make no mistake, they've come up against a really strong, well-oiled unit.
"(Middlesbrough head coach) Aitor Karanka hasn't shouted and screamed, he's been calm throughout and you can be when you've got a team that's only conceded 12 goals in the league.
"When you're coming up a side like that and you concede goals the way they have, it's very disappointing.
"Chris Hughton will be disappointed with the way they've gone about this game, but they need to maintain their focus because this is a team that could come very close to promotion."
A special visitor
Jose Mourinho worked with Middlesbrough head coach Aitor Karanka at Real Madrid
News of Guus Hiddink's appointment as Chelsea manager broke during Middlesbrough's victory at Brighton, which was watched by his predecessor at Stamford Bridge - Jose Mourinho.
An agency representing the 52-year-old released a statement earlier on Saturday, which read: "He (Jose) will not be attending any high-profile games because he wants to discourage any speculation about his future."
But Mourinho did take in some Championship action later in the day and he watched Karanka - who was on Mourinho's coaching staff at Real Madrid - lead his side to an emphatic success.
What the managers said
Brighton manager Chris Hughton:
Hughton on Brighton v Middlesbrough
"Middlesbrough got an early goal and an early lift. We've now conceded four goals from corners in our last three games and that is something that needs to be eradicated.
"But we were up against a very good side and it's very difficult to be too harsh on the players.
"The reaction from our supporters at the end was excellent, and I hope the impact is positive and this defeat is a little bit of a reality check that allows us to get back to winning ways."
Middlesbrough head coach Aitor Karanka:
"Jose brought us luck. We worked together at Real Madrid and it was an amazing experience.
"He is a friend of mine. I didn't tell the players that he would be watching but it wasn't a secret.
"Afterwards, he came into the dressing room to offer congratulations. He felt he had watched a really good team and he was impressed with us. He was the best and he will be the best."
Lineup, Bookings (1) & Substitutions (6)
Brighton & Hove Albion
- 13 Stockdale
- 02 Bruno
- 03 Greer
- 04 Hünemeier (Goldson - 60' )
- 14 Calderon
- 27 van La Parra
- 06 Stephens
- 07 Kayal
- 15 Murphy (Crofts - 74' )
- 10 Hemed (Zamora - 74' )
- 21 Wilson
Substitutes
- 01 Mäenpää
- 08 Crofts
- 17 Goldson
- 19 Manu
- 24 Ince
- 25 Zamora
- 28 Chicksen
Middlesbrough
- 01 Konstantopoulos
- 24 Nsue (Kalas - 74' )
- 04 Ayala
- 06 Gibson
- 03 Friend
- 08 Clayton (Zuculini - 84' )
- 07 Leadbitter Booked
- 18 Stuani
- 19 Downing
- 27 Adomah
- 09 Kike (Fabbrini - 65' )
Substitutes
- 05 Amorebieta
- 10 De Pena
- 13 Mejias
- 26 Kalas
- 31 Fabbrini
- 34 Forshaw
- 36 Zuculini
Match Stats
Live Text Commentary
Full Time Match ends, Brighton and Hove Albion 0, Middlesbrough 3.
90:00 +3:09 Full timeFull Time Second Half ends, Brighton and Hove Albion 0, Middlesbrough 3.
90:00 +2:16Attempt saved. Cristhian Stuani (Middlesbrough) right footed shot from outside the box is saved in the top right corner. Assisted by George Friend.
90:00 +1:46Offside, Middlesbrough. George Friend tries a through ball, but Albert Adomah is caught offside.
90:00 +1:05Attempt blocked. Dale Stephens (Brighton and Hove Albion) right footed shot from outside the box is blocked. Assisted by Bruno.
89:52Attempt blocked. Íñigo Calderón (Brighton and Hove Albion) right footed shot from outside the box is blocked. Assisted by Dale Stephens.
87:07Offside, Middlesbrough. Stewart Downing tries a through ball, but Diego Fabbrini is caught offside.
85:23Foul by Bruno (Brighton and Hove Albion).
85:23Diego Fabbrini (Middlesbrough) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
84:25Foul by Íñigo Calderón (Brighton and Hove Albion).
84:25Diego Fabbrini (Middlesbrough) wins a free kick on the right wing.
83:07 SubstitutionSubstitution Substitution, Middlesbrough. Bruno Zuculini replaces Adam Clayton.
78:51Foul by Bobby Zamora (Brighton and Hove Albion).
78:51Tomas Kalas (Middlesbrough) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
77:47Rajiv van La Parra (Brighton and Hove Albion) wins a free kick on the right wing.
77:47Foul by Albert Adomah (Middlesbrough).
75:32Attempt blocked. Bobby Zamora (Brighton and Hove Albion) header from the centre of the box is blocked. Assisted by Bruno with a cross.
73:57 SubstitutionSubstitution Substitution, Brighton and Hove Albion. Andrew Crofts replaces Jamie Murphy.
73:25 SubstitutionSubstitution Substitution, Brighton and Hove Albion. Bobby Zamora replaces Tomer Hemed.
73:15 SubstitutionSubstitution Substitution, Middlesbrough. Tomas Kalas replaces Nsue.
Beram Kayal (Brighton and Hove Albion) wins a free kick on the left wing.
69:14Foul by Adam Clayton (Middlesbrough).
67:23Foul by Beram Kayal (Brighton and Hove Albion).
67:23Diego Fabbrini (Middlesbrough) wins a free kick in the attacking half.
66:53Attempt missed. James Wilson (Brighton and Hove Albion) header from the centre of the box misses to the left. Assisted by Jamie Murphy with a cross.
64:36 SubstitutionSubstitution Substitution, Middlesbrough. Diego Fabbrini replaces Kike.
62:53Corner, Brighton and Hove Albion. Conceded by Ben Gibson.
61:11 Goal scoredGoal! Goal! Brighton and Hove Albion 0, Middlesbrough 3. Cristhian Stuani (Middlesbrough) header from the left side of the six yard box to the high centre of the goal. Assisted by Kike following a corner.
61:08Attempt missed. Kike (Middlesbrough) left footed shot from the right side of the box misses to the left. Assisted by George Friend following a corner.
60:00Corner, Middlesbrough. Conceded by David Stockdale.
59:57Attempt missed. Adam Clayton (Middlesbrough) right footed shot from outside the box is close, but misses to the left following a corner.
59:37 SubstitutionSubstitution Substitution, Brighton and Hove Albion. Connor Goldson replaces Uwe Hünemeier because of an injury.
59:18Delay over. They are ready to continue.
57:55Delay in match Uwe Hünemeier (Brighton and Hove Albion) because of an injury.
57:32Corner, Middlesbrough. Conceded by Uwe Hünemeier.
57:01Attempt missed. Nsue (Middlesbrough) right footed shot from long range on the right is just a bit too high.
56:21Attempt blocked. Tomer Hemed (Brighton and Hove Albion) right footed shot from the centre of the box is blocked. Assisted by Rajiv van La Parra with a cross.
55:58Corner, Brighton and Hove Albion. Conceded by Dimitrios Konstantopoulos.
55:57Attempt saved. Jamie Murphy (Brighton and Hove Albion) right footed shot from the left side of the box is saved in the centre of the goal. Assisted by Íñigo Calderón.
55:52Attempt blocked. James Wilson (Brighton and Hove Albion) left footed shot from outside the box is blocked. Assisted by Beram Kayal.
55:42Attempt missed. Tomer Hemed (Brighton and Hove Albion) left footed shot from the left side of the box misses to the right. Assisted by James Wilson.
48:25Attempt missed. Bruno (Brighton and Hove Albion) right footed shot from outside the box misses to the left.
47:56Attempt saved. Daniel Ayala (Middlesbrough) right footed shot from the centre of the box is saved in the centre of the goal. Assisted by Grant Leadbitter with a cross.
47:22Corner, Middlesbrough. Conceded by David Stockdale.
47:20Attempt saved. Cristhian Stuani (Middlesbrough) right footed shot from outside the box is saved in the bottom right corner. Assisted by Stewart Downing.
46:55Attempt saved. Jamie Murphy (Brighton and Hove Albion) right footed shot from outside the box is saved in the bottom left corner. Assisted by Íñigo Calderón.
45:00Second Half begins Brighton and Hove Albion 0, Middlesbrough 2.
45:00 +1:06 Half timeHalf Time First Half ends, Brighton and Hove Albion 0, Middlesbrough 2.
43:01 Goal scoredGoal! Goal! Brighton and Hove Albion 0, Middlesbrough 2. Albert Adomah (Middlesbrough) header from the centre of the box to the high centre of the goal following a corner.
42:59Attempt blocked. Daniel Ayala (Middlesbrough) header from the centre of the box is blocked. Assisted by Grant Leadbitter with a cross.
42:19Corner, Middlesbrough. Conceded by Gordon Greer.
38:53Rajiv van La Parra (Brighton and Hove Albion) wins a free kick on the right wing.
38:53Foul by George Friend (Middlesbrough).
29:24Uwe Hünemeier (Brighton and Hove Albion) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
29:24Foul by Kike (Middlesbrough).
28:44Attempt missed. Dale Stephens (Brighton and Hove Albion) left footed shot from outside the box misses to the right.
26:13Foul by Bruno (Brighton and Hove Albion).
26:13Albert Adomah (Middlesbrough) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
25:10Foul by Rajiv van La Parra (Brighton and Hove Albion).
25:10Daniel Ayala (Middlesbrough) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
22:34Attempt missed. James Wilson (Brighton and Hove Albion) right footed shot from a difficult angle on the right misses to the right. Assisted by Tomer Hemed.
21:50Offside, Middlesbrough. Cristhian Stuani tries a through ball, but Kike is caught offside.
20:25Attempt missed. Beram Kayal (Brighton and Hove Albion) right footed shot from outside the box is high and wide to the right following a set piece situation.
19:38Rajiv van La Parra (Brighton and Hove Albion) wins a free kick on the left wing.
19:38Foul by Nsue (Middlesbrough).
14:03Corner, Brighton and Hove Albion. Conceded by Nsue.
13:03 BookingBooking Grant Leadbitter (Middlesbrough) is shown the yellow card for a bad foul.
12:59Uwe Hünemeier (Brighton and Hove Albion) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
12:59Foul by Grant Leadbitter (Middlesbrough).
7:14Attempt blocked. James Wilson (Brighton and Hove Albion) left footed shot from the centre of the box is blocked. Assisted by Íñigo Calderón with a cross.
3:55 Goal scoredGoal! Goal! Brighton and Hove Albion 0, Middlesbrough 1. Kike (Middlesbrough) header from the centre of the box to the top left corner. Assisted by Albert Adomah with a cross.
2:37Foul by Cristhian Stuani (Middlesbrough).
2:37Beram Kayal (Brighton and Hove Albion) wins a free kick in the attacking half.
0:00First Half begins.
0:00Lineups are announced and players are warming up.
Live data and text provided by our data suppliers
