MIDDLESBROUGH supporters got a glimpse of their club's attacking future last night as youngsters Mustapha Carayol and Cameron Park scored superb goals to earn a Capital One Cup win over Gillingham.

The next three days will determine whether they also witnessed the final chapter of Boro's attacking past. Marvin Emnes played for the opening 58 minutes at the Priestfield Stadium despite continued interest from Swansea City ahead of Friday's transfer deadline.

Will Emnes still be a Boro player on Saturday morning? Time will tell. But if he does depart, Carayol already looks more than adequate replacement.

Signed from Bristol Rovers for a relative pittance this summer, the 23-year-old ran half the length of the field before drilling home the first-half strike that helped take Boro into the third round of the League Cup for the second season in succession.

Park's 90th-minute strike settled things conclusively, and just like Adam Reach and Luke Williams, who scored against Burnley seven days earlier, the 20-year-old looks primed to make a major impression this season.

Boro played some excellent football in a one-sided first half, and while a late injury to skipper Rhys Williams took some of the gloss off their success, Tony Mowbray's transformation of his side's methodology continues apace.

He showcased an experimental 3-4-3 formation last night, with Williams initially slotting into the right wing-back role he fills for Australia and both Park and Andy Halliday making their first starts of the campaign.

The system made for a great deal of attacking fluidity, with Emnes, Park and Carayol swapping positions repeatedly as they made it difficult for Gillingham's centre-halves to stick too closely to them.

Carayol was particularly impressive, pulling wide to receive possession before bursting forward with purpose and pace. He set up Emnes for a fourth-minute strike that was saved by goalkeeper Stuart Nelson's legs before going close himself with a ferocious 25-yard drive that Nelson did well to parry.

With Boro in complete control of the early stages, Stephen McManus should have found the target with a near-post header from Park's corner. Nevertheless, there was much to admire in their fluidity and claimed a deserved lead in the 23rd minute.

The goal was a fantastic individual effort from Carayol, who received the ball from George Friend in his own half and immediately spun away to embark on a scything run through the Gillingham back four.

With the home side standing off, no doubt fearful of the 23-year-old's searing pace, Carayol burst past Callum Davies and hammered a crisp low finish past Nelson. It was an excellent effort from a player who cost just £250,000.

The likes of Carayol, Julio Arca and Richie Smallwood have barely figured so far this season, yet they slotted in seamlessly last night to underline just how strong a squad Mowbray now has at his disposal.

His midfield options look especially appealing, with a clutch of talented youngsters supplementing an experienced core that compares favourably to anything else in the Championship.

Gillingham are two levels below that of course, but the hosts went into last night's game with a 100 per cent league record and a Capital One Cup win over Championship Bristol City in the previous round of the competition.

Boro would have anticipated a physical test from the off, but it never really materialised despite the presence of muscular Gills striker Danny Kedwell.

The burly forward dragged a first-half strike past the post, but Jason Steele reached the interval without having to make a save and was still not tested when Deon Burton flashed a long-range strike wide on the hour mark.

By that stage, Carayol had come within inches of doubling Boro's lead with a shot that struck the base of the left-hand post.

The winger received possession from Halliday, cut in from the left flank and turned to prod in a shot that looped off full-back Matt Fish's foot and struck the woodwork with Nelson beaten.

Boro remained the dominant force during the second half, but their superiority was less pronounced and the lack of a second goal meant Gillingham's players still had something to chase in the closing stages.

Kedwell's physical presence ensured the hosts' attacking always had a focal point, and the striker headed wide in the 63rd minute before skewing a shot past the post after Burton's flick on had threatened to unlock the Boro defence.

At that stage, the visitors' night was going completely to plan, but any joy was tempered by what appeared to be a serious injury suffered by Williams with 16 minutes left. The Australian went down in agony close to the touchline and received more than ten minutes of treatment on the edge of Gillingham boss Martin Allen's technical area before hobbling down the tunnel with heavy strapping around his ankle.

The hosts' attacking became increasingly frantic late on, with a succession of deep crosses finding their way into Boro's penalty area.

But the Teessiders' made their victory secure in the final minute. Merouane Zemmama picked up a loose ball in the Gills half and found Park, who cheekily chipped the advancing Nelson to confirm Boro's place in the third-round draw.

MATCHFACTS

Goals : Carayol (23, 0-1), Park (90, 0-2)

Bookings : Allen (90, foul)

Referee : Gavin Ward (Sittingbourne) 5

Attendance : 5,146

Entertainment : 3/5

GILLINGHAM (4-4-2): Nelson 5; Fish 5 (Strevens 71), Davies 4, Barrett 5, Martin 5; Lee 5 (Whelpdale 10, 6), Jackman 4 (Dack 53, 5), Payne 5, Allen 6; KEDWELL 6, Burton 5. Subs (not used): Forecast (gk), Flanagan, Frampton, Montrose.

MIDDLESBROUGH (3-4-3): Steele 6; Hines 6, McManus 7, Friend 6; R Williams 6 (Haroun 74), Arca 7, Smallwood 7, Halliday 6; CARAYOL 8 (Zemmama 66, 7), Emnes 7 (Miller 58, 6), Park 7. Subs (not used): Ripley (gk), Reach, L Williams, Ledesma.

Man Of The Match
MUSTAPHA Carayol - opened the scoring with a fantastic goal and caused a succession of problems with his pace and direct running.