Boro earn Ipswich point

Wheater: On target

Related links

Teams

• Ipswich Town
• Middlesbrough

Also see

• Championship video highlights
• Championship fixtures
• Championship table
• Championship stats

Middlesbrough came from behind to claim a 1-1 draw with Ipswich Town at Portman Road.

Daryl Murphy, signed on loan from Sunderland on deadline day, made a dream start to his Ipswich career as he scored after just 60 seconds converting a cross from fellow debutant David Healy.

But Boro battled their way back into the game as David Wheater headed home his first goal for 18 months to seal a draw.

Healy and Murphy were two of four changes made by Roy Keane. Elsewhere, defender David Wright and midfielder Jonathan Walters were restored to the starting line-up.

Boro boss Gordon Strachan also made four changes. Lee Miller and Kyle Naughton went straight into the side while fellow transfer-window arrival Stephen McManus made his debut and Andrew Taylor was recalled.

The sale of 12-goal winger Adam Johnson to Manchester City coupled with several players absent through injury and suspension saw Strachan start the game with three centre-halves and three full-backs - but in a 4-4-2 formation with Justin Hoyte in an usual central midfield role.

It was immediately evident that players were playing out of position by the start they made to the game.

Regroup

But Boro regrouped after conceding the early goal, although they posed little in the way of an attacking threat in the first half.

Chris Killen got an acrobatic effort on target on the half-hour mark but it was a routine save for Arran Lee-Barrett.

Healy and Murphy continued to look lively and had several shots blocked by Boro defenders before the visitors came into the game after the break.

Miller fired over the crossbar five minutes into the second half and Killen forced a fine save from Lee-Barrett when his shot inside the area was tipped around a post.

Boro's pressure paid off after 62 minutes when Wheater headed home Gary O'Neil's left-wing cross.

Ipswich had a chance to retake the lead with 12 minutes remaining when Gareth McAuley headed Grant Leadbitter's corner over the crossbar.