Middlesbrough vs Preston North End. Sky Bet Championship.
Riverside StadiumAttendance17,961.
Report and highlights from the Sky Bet Championship clash at the Riverside Stadium
Tuesday 1 October 2019 22:42, UK
Preston missed out on a chance to climb into the Sky Bet Championship's top two after Middlesbrough hit back to claim a 1-1 draw at the Riverside.
Boro, closer to the relegation zone than they are to the top six, were the better team for much of the game but couldn't make the most of the chances they created.
It was Preston, during their best spell of the first half, who opened the scoring when Josh Harrop tapped in from close range in the 40th minute.
The lead lasted less than two minutes because Preston full-back Darnell Fisher could only turn Paddy McNair's low cross inside his own net to level things up - and that was how it remained.
Preston, who drew 3-3 with Bristol City to stay in the play-off places on Saturday, are unbeaten in seven in the league, and headed to Teesside looking to win back-to-back games there for the first time since 1928.
Having succumbed 4-1 to Sheffield Wednesday at the weekend, Boro head coach Jonathan Woodgate made four changes, including a recall for Jonny Howson and Daniel Ayala plus chances for Marcus Browne and Marcus Tavernier.
Woodgate's decisions looked like it would have the desired effect, because for the majority of the opening period, Middlesbrough resembled the team sitting higher in the Championship.
But they failed to find the net and that allowed Preston to take the lead, which they did with seven minutes remaining in the half.
Before that, Marcus Browne had a low drive stopped by the legs of goalkeeper Declan Rudd, while Britt Assombalonga couldn't turn in a deep Paddy McNair cross that bounced off the back post and on to the striker.
Those two opportunities were the best either side had until Preston skipper Alan Browne's header was cleared off the line by Adam Clayton, and two minutes later the visitors had the lead.
Browne was again involved. This time, after some strong work by Daniel Johnson, the midfielder's deflected effort hit the inside of the post before rolling across goal for Harrop to tap in from close range.
The lead didn't last long. Middlesbrough were quick to go on the offensive and when McNair got to the by-line, he drilled a low cross into the six-yard box where Fisher could only turn into his own net with Assombalonga close to him.
Middlesbrough created the best two openings early at the start of the second half. Tavernier had them both. The first was a simple save and the second saw Rudd jump high to tip over a first time effort from the winger.
Jonathan Woodgate: "I was pleased with that display. To be honest I thought we deserved the win, we had a lot of the chances. I can't remember a save Darren Randolph had to make, their keeper made a number of saves.
"I'm gutted to not get the three points but it's a step in the right direction. I'm pleased with the performance and the reaction of the players."
Alex Neil: "It's a fair result over the piece. First half we controlled the ball better without being threatening. They retained the ball better than us at the top end of the pitch and they created more chances than us.
"The second half we created probably the best chance, the way that got cut back for Daniel Johnson and he didn't make contact. I didn't think either team did enough to win. Middlesbrough have good players. They have been a team challenging to get out of this league in recent seasons. It was a hard-fought game. We can play better. I thought it was a fair result."
