To borrow a phrase from commentator parlance: would you believe it? Nary two days after I write about Stewart Downing’s troubles in front of goal this season and worry about the effects of his mid-week game for England he pops up with his first goal of the campaign and a man of the match performance to earn Boro a replay in the Cup.

While the form book was ripped up (to use another platitude) both by Downing and by each team, there were a few familiar features to the game. Afonso Alves was as profligate as ever, managing five shots and yet contriving to only test Rob Green with one of them, while the defence never looked quite safe.

The last fifteen minutes were a familiar defensive scramble as we came under sustained pressure after failing to kill the game off, and the inevitable equaliser duly arrived for the Hammers. Still, the bookies had West Ham as safe favourites to win, and a quarter final tie against Everton is now a realistic aim.

On Wednesday night in Seville Downing looked isolated and miserable on England's left wing as Ashley Cole opted to indulge his own attacking instincts rather than feed the Boro winger. Against West Ham it was a totally different story. Gareth Southgate was pragmatic in his team selection, putting out a conservative 4-5-1 formation with Downing playing just behind Alves. The intention was to stifle West Ham, but if the tactics were negative, Stewey was unrelentingly positive.

As early as the second minute he nicked the ball and surged through the West Ham defence, a rapid break that culminated in Adam Johnson shooting just wide. From then on, every attack we made seemed to flow through Downing as he showed his pace, his range of passing and an eye for goal. Never once did he look like a player struggling for confidence as he worried Green with a series of long range stingers, and his goal came from a diving header: not the kind of finish you'd expect from a winger low on self-belief.

While Downing was full of energy, West Ham were strangely sluggish. The crowd was muted and the home side struggled to impose themselves on the game. After a lethargic opening they began to exert pressure on the Boro goal, and Brad Jones made a series of good saves against Mark Noble, but this spell of dominance was killed off in one well-constructed counter-attack that culminated in Adam Johnson's cross baffling the West Ham defence and Downing heading home at the far post.

After the goal the Hammers hardly threatened, losing the quiet Carlton Cole and the downright useless Boa Morte to injury. Di Michele begged journalists to make the easy comparisons to Paulo Di Canio by trying a massively ambitious scissor kick and then an equally spectacular volley from outside the area after some delightful ball juggling, but Brad Jones was comfortably in control of everything else. It wasn't until the last twenty minutes that West Ham realised they were in real danger of losing the game. Gianfranco Zola brought on Savio and the Hammers piled on the pressure until Boro's defence dutifully cracked. A long Savio free kick from the touchline evaded everyone except Ilunga who converted an easy near-post header.

As has been the case so many times, the game could have been won long before the equaliser had Alves done better. He was guilty of a couple of indulgent and frankly hideous attempts from distance that never came close to being threatening, and shot wide when played through by Downing. His best moment came from a smart dribble and shot reminiscent of David Villa's goal on Wednesday, but Green made the save. As usual, the Brazilian got into the positions but failed to either make the right decision or apply the finishing touch.

Although West Ham's equaliser was disappointing and avoidable, the result and the performance were reasonably positive. Digard was immense in the centre, winning and distributing the ball, and when West Ham did get past him they were mopped up by the combination of Huth and Wheater, playing at centre back together with Riggott injured. Downing's performance was the real high point, but even then it will cause debate.

Was his performance down to Southgate's tactical changes or was it something else- even a one-off? Should we compromise a dedicated striker by sticking to the 4-5-1 to allow Downing more influence on the game? And what will it mean for Tuncay Sanli, who usually operates behind Alves and has been the source of much of our creative play? Gareth Southgate's decisions here could be crucial. One thing is certain: the performance was been the best from Stewey for a long time and if he can be as influential in future games as he was at Upton Park our form will surely start to turn.

As for the result, it gives us a replay at the Riverside that is certainly winnable, although Southgate will be wondering how to approach it. West Ham were quiet today largely because Boro's formation successfully muffled them, and if he opts for a more positive line-up at home then West Ham will surely play better. To close on one final barrage of commentary cliché: it's a finely poised tie and there's everything to play for!