BORO 1

(Assombalonga, 62)

ROVERS 1

(Mulgrew, 22)

Rovers couldn't make a man advantage count as they were held to a 1-1 draw at Middlesbrough.

They led through Charlie Mulgrew's fifth of the season, an excellent free kick from 25 yards, in 22nd minute.

That came after the big turning point in the game which saw Middlesbrough's Mo Besic shown a straight red card for a foul on Bradley Dack.

Dack hit the post early in the second half, but Boro, who made all three changes by the 45th minute, saw one of their substitutes come up with an excellent equaliser in the 62nd minute through Britt Assombalonga.

Rovers didn't make the most of their opportunities in the final third, as they were forced in to a share of the spoils. 

Rovers lined up with an unchanged side from the one that had beaten Sheffield Wednesday seven days earlier, with Darragh Lenihan and Amari’i Bell only returning on the bench.

Middlesbrough, looking to react to a 3-0 home defeat the week before, went closest first at what was a particularly flat Riverside Stadium.

Daniel Ayala rose highest at the far post to meet a Stewart Downing corner, with Corry Evans well placed to clear for Rovers close to the goal-line.

Derrick Williams then had to be alert to clear when Jordan Hugill looked set to finish from close range after a speculative Jonny Howson shot landed at his feet.

Rovers were growing in to though and some neat play from Ryan Nyambe, who got forward to good effect in the first half, presented Dack with a shooting opportunity, only for his effort to be deflected wide.

That was in the 14th minute, with the big turning point coming seven minutes later as Mo Besic took too long in possession and saw his pocket pinched by Dack who was clean through on goal when the Serbian pulled him back.

It may have taken a while, but after what seemed like an age, assistant referee Sian Massey-Ellis flagged for a foul, leaving referee Simon Hooper with no option but to brandish the red card.

Besic had barely left the pitch before Rovers were celebrating the opening goal as Mulgrew curled the free kick up and over the wall and out of reach of goalkeeper Darren Randolph.

The man advantage freed up spaces for Rovers who were making good use of it.

Downing headed over a Harrison Reed corner before the midfielder turned provider at the end of an excellent move. He squared for Danny Graham who had pulled off his marker well, only to see Daniel Ayala fly infront of his goalbound shot to block.

Boro made a switch just after the half hour mark, bringing on an extra midfield, but that couldn’t stop Rovers who had another excellent opening before the break.

Dack freed Graham inside the box, and after looking for support that wasn’t there, opted for a shot which Randolph parried in to the path of the onrushing Corry Evans, but he couldn’t turn the rebound home.

The hosts were booed off at the break, with some of the frustration vented towards the team and a large proportion at the officials.

Tony Pulis made two more changes when the teams emerged, with Britt Assombalonga and George Saville brought on as Boro moved two up front.

But it was Rovers who threatened a second goal eight minutes after the re-start. The move started with an excellent pass from Dack out to Conway who linked up with Williams and feed Dack who on the run fired a shot off the base of the post. The follow-up fell to Conway whose forced Randolph in to a save low down.

There was a scare for Rovers though when they were caught high up the pitch and a poor offside trap allowed Hugill to bear down on goal. But Mulgrew showed great recovery skills to get back, and knowing he had to make inch perfect tackle, did just that and Rovers survived.

But that let off didn’t last, as Boro levelled things up in the 62nd minute. Friend worked the ball in to Hugill who teed up Assombalonga to bend a delicious effort in to the top corner from the left edge of the box. 

Rovers weren’t making the most of their territory as moves broke down on several occasions at the feet of Ryan Nyambe.

Within moments of coming on Armstrong saw a shot blocked by his own man, before Reed’s dipping effort was kept out unconvincingly by Randolph.

Armstrong wasn’t making the most of his opportunities, and after being  played in by Dack chose to take a touch when clean through which allowed the covering defender to get back and clear.

But within seconds it was Rovers having a sigh of relief as Downing made a hash of a ball forward allowing Assombalonga to run clear. He lifted the ball over the keeper, but Downing was able to get back to clear from under his own crossbar.

Dack tried his luck late on, but it was more in hope than expectation, as Randolph gathered with ease.

Middlesbrough: Randolph, Friend, Ayala, Shotton, Clayton (Saville, 46), Hugill, Howson, Fletcher (Wing, 32), Downing (Assombalonga, 46), Flint, Besic

Subs: Lonergan, Batth, McNair, Tavernier

Rovers: Raya, Nyambe, Downing, Mulgrew, Williams, Smallwood (Rothwell, 74), Evans, Reed (Brereton, 85), Dack, Conway (Armstrong, 70), Graham

Subs: Leutwiler, Bell, Lenihan, Palmer