The truth of the matter is they were way too close to going out to Northern Premier League Guiseley, 88 places below the League One side. Jamie Reid put Boro in front on 53 minutes but Will Longbottom equalised seven minutes from time. No replays this year meant extra-time and after no further goals left the two tied at 1-1, penalties was needed.
And here, Guiseley were the width of Murphy Cooper's palm from going through, the keeper denying Lebrun Mbeka and then saving from Jameel Ible to send Boro through. That was not good enough for manager Alex Revell. "It was nowhere near the way we wanted it to be," said the Boro boss.
"The aim at the start of the day was to be in the next round, but not in that fashion. "We were tested before the game with Luther Wildin pulling out in the warm-up so that obviously changed the way we were going to set-up. "For Guiseley, this was their cup final, as it 100 per cent should be, and in the second half they were putting lots of numbers forward and making it difficult.
"It's not the performance that we wanted. We wanted to come and win well, especially here in front of everyone watching, but it doesn't always work like that in this cup." That injury to Wildin left them with only three fit defenders and having to make a drastic late reshuffle.
That was not the whole reason for their performance though. Revell said: "Without the people we've [already got missing] and then you have to change it again, it does affect you for sure because you're .