MX23RW : Monday, September 30 08:49:02| >> :120:7987:7987:
[monks data]
Attendance: 18,350
Middlesbrough logo
Championship | Gameweek 29
Jan 21, 2020 at 7.45pm UK
 
Birmingham logo

1-1

Fletcher (81')
FT(HT: 0-1)

Ashley Fletcher rescues late equaliser for Middlesbrough

Former Boro striker Lukas Jutkiewicz gave Birmingham the lead in the 1-1 draw.

Ashley Fletcher's late equaliser enabled Middlesbrough to extend their unbeaten home run to eight Sky Bet Championship games as they claimed a 1-1 draw with Birmingham.

Lukas Jutkiewicz fired the visitors ahead in the first half as he marked his return to the Riverside with a neat headed finish.

But Fletcher earned Middlesbrough a point as he converted Marvin Johnson's 81st-minute cross with a slick back-heel.

Boro enjoyed the better of a scrappy opening period, with Fletcher heading Djed Spence's cross wide of the target and failing to find the target with another driven effort.

However, when the home side were given a golden opportunity to take the lead midway through the opening period, they were unable to take it.

Gary Gardner conceded a penalty when he clipped Patrick Roberts' legs in the area, but Paddy McNair's spot-kick was a nice height for Lee Camp to deal with, and the Birmingham goalkeeper made a fine save tumbling away to his right.

Camp did not enjoy his time in the north east with Sunderland, with his spell at the Stadium of Light coinciding with the Black Cats' relegation to League One, but the 35-year-old will have relished his latest return to the region.

The same will have been true of Jutkiewicz, whose header fired Birmingham into the lead just three minutes after Camp was performing his goalkeeping heroics at the other end.

Jeremie Bela swung over an inviting cross from the right, and the former Middlesbrough striker stole ahead of Jonny Howson to head home from inside the six-yard box.

Birmingham came within inches of doubling their lead towards the end of the first half, with Kerim Mrabti drilling a low strike against the outside of the post after Aynsley Pears clawed David Davis' cross into his path to prevent Jutkiewicz tapping home a second goal.

Middlesbrough's problems continued with Roberts and Dael Fry both succumbing to first-half injuries – Jonathan Woodgate was already having to make do without Ryan Shotton, George Friend, Daniel Ayala and Britt Assombalonga – and Birmingham threatened again shortly before the hour mark as Kristian Pedersen looped a header onto the roof of the net after Bela crossed from the right.

Substitute Rudy Gestede came close to an equaliser with his first touch after leaving the bench, heading over from a corner, but Boro claimed a leveller with nine minutes left.

Marvin Johnson delivered a low cross from the left, which Fletcher converted via a neat back-heel from the corner of the six-yard box.

That looked like being that, but there was drama in the dying seconds as Jutkiewicz put the ball into the net moments after referee Andy Woolmer brought play to a halt because Marcus Tavenier was down a head injury.

The incident sparked a melee on the touchline that resulted in coaches Leo Percovich and Sean Rush both receiving red cards.

ID:386977: cacheID:386977:1false2false3false:QQ:: from db desktop :LenBod:restore:5636:No Data Analysis info
Restore Data
Share this article now:
Preston boss Alex Neil on December 14, 2019
Read Next:
Preston manager Alex Neil wary of "difficult proposition" Barnsley
>
rhs 2.0
Today's games header
FT
Bills
10-35
Ravens
Tables header RHS
TeamPWDLFAGDPTS
1Birmingham CityBirmingham7610168819
2Wrexham8521146817
3Lincoln CityLincoln7421126614
4Blackpool84221613314
5Mansfield TownMansfield74211311214
6Barnsley84221311214
7Wycombe WanderersWycombe74121411313
8Charlton AthleticCharlton841376113
9Stockport CountyStockport7331117412
10Huddersfield TownHuddersfield84041210212
11Stevenage832365111
12Peterborough UnitedPeterborough83231414011
13Exeter CityExeter731386210
14Bolton WanderersBolton7313911-210
15Reading7313911-210
16Wigan AthleticWigan82336519
17Northampton TownNorthampton722389-18
18Leyton Orient8224911-28
19Rotherham UnitedRotherham8143610-47
20Crawley TownCrawley7214510-57
21Bristol Rovers8215713-67
22Burton Albion7043813-54
23Shrewsbury TownShrewsbury8116613-74
24Cambridge UnitedCambridge7016615-91


Sports Mole provides in-depth previews and predictions for every match from the biggest leagues and competitions in world football.
Argentina's Lionel Messi kisses the World Cup trophy after collecting the Golden Ball award on December 18, 2022Sign up for our FREE daily preview newsletter direct to your inbox!