West Ham United left it late to secure a replay against a battling Middlesbrough side in the FA Cup fifth round on Saturday.

Stewart Downing gave Middlesbrough the lead midway through the first half when he headed in a cross from Gary O'Neil. The Hammers huffed and puffed and, after numerous chances went begging, finally got their reward when Herita Ilunga headed in a free-kick from Savio with just seven minutes remaining.

Gianfranco Zola made one change to the side that narrowly lost to Manchester United. Valon Behrami had not quite recovered from the hamstring injury that forced him to miss Switzerland's midweek game with Bulgaria so Luis Boa Morte came in to replace him with Jack Collison switching to the right. Walter Lopez took the Portuguese's place on the bench.

West Ham started slowly with several passes going astray, while Downing gave a warning of what was to come, twice going close in the opening exchanges with two left-footed shots from just outside the penalty area.

However, the Hammers soon started to find their feet and began knocking the ball around in the manner that had become their trademark in recent weeks. Mark Noble was the first to test Brad Jones with an effort from just inside the area on 16 minutes and a minute later the he was to go close again. Boa Morte did well to feed Collison and the Wales international danced around two defenders before laying it off to the on-rushing Noble. He controlled well but he could only direct his shot straight at Jones.

The Middlesbrough No22 was having a busy period and was called into action again two minutes later through a 25-yard piledriver from centre-back James Collins.

Despite all of the home pressure, it was to be Middlesbrough that were to take the lead. On 22 minutes, O'Neil crossed from the right and the ball missed everyone apart from Downing, who stooped low to head past Robert Green at the far post.

David Di Michele almost restored parity instantly with a sensational effort. The Italian juggled the ball over two defenders before sending a left-footed volley from 30 yard inches wide.

The home side suffered a further setback eleven minutes before half-time when Carlton Cole - fresh from his midweek England debut in Spain - had to leave the field with what looked like an ankle injury. Diego Tristan replaced him and the former Spanish international then had a great chance to announce his arrival with a goal on the stroke of half-time.

A swift counterattack saw Boa Morte feed Di Michele, who drew the last two defenders towards him before rolling the ball across to Tristan, but the striker could only fire high into the Centenary Stand. There was still time for Noble to go into referee Peter Walton's book for a late tackle to compound a frustrating first half for the Hammers.

Three minutes after the restart Freddie Sears came on for the injured Boa Morte and that was to be the most noteworthy action of the opening period, as passes from both teams failed to find their target. Indeed it was 20 minutes into the second half before either keeper was tested - Afonso Alves forcing Green into a sharp stop down to his right. The England international had to be at his best again moments later to stop another long-range effort from Downing.

The game looked to be creeping away from the home side as chances came and went, with Di Michele putting the most clear-cut opening over the bar. Zola responded by adding some extra attacking verve with the introduction of Savio for Noble with 15 minutes to go, while his Middlesbrough counterpart Gareth Southgate brought on Tuncay Sanli for Alves and Josh Walker for Julio Arca.

Lucas Neill went into the book for a handball before Ilunga put his side's nerves at ease with an equaliser with just seven minutes left on the clock. Savio floated in a delightful free-kick from the left which bounced over Collins but not the left-back - who simply nodded the ball in from three yards.

The 33,658 among the home support packed into the Boleyn Ground erupted while simultaneously breathing a huge sigh of relief. It was not a vintage performance from the Hammers, but most importantly they are still in the draw for the sixth round of the cup, which will be made on Sunday.

But first things first. West Ham must clear the current hurdle in the replay at the Riverside a week on Tuesday.