Middlesbrough were denied victory on their return to the Premier League by Stoke City on Saturday afternoon, as the sides played out a 1-1 draw at the Riverside Stadium.
Xherdan Shaqiri's fine free kick shortly after the hour cancelled out Alvaro Negredo's first-half opener, in a game that saw just three on-target attempts.
Boro just edged the half-chances on the day, with Gaston Ramirez clipping the post with one effort and Stewart Downing coming close with a late header.
Relive how the 90 minutes of action unfolded with Sports Mole's live text coverage below.
Hello and welcome to Sports Mole's live text coverage of the Premier League meeting between Middlesbrough and Stoke City at the Riverside Stadium. The hosts mark their return to the English top flight this afternoon following a seven-season absence, in which time their opponents have firmly established themselves among the top-half elite in the division.
Three ninth-placed finishes in succession for Stoke has provided them with a platform to push on this time around and potentially challenge for a European spot, but it will be incredibly tough for Mark Hughes and his men as they still lack a prolific goal-scoring striker. Boro have strengthened well during the off-season, meanwhile, bringing in a number of new faces to add to their squad.
TEAM NEWS!
MIDDLESBROUGH XI: Valdes; Nsue, Barragan, Gibson, Friend; Clayton, De Roon; Adomah, Ramirez, Downing; Negredo
STOKE CITY XI: Given; Bardsley, Shawcross, Wollscheid, Pieters; Whelan, Imbula; Shaqiri, Bojan, Arnautovic; Diouf
Let us start by taking a look at the tome team, then, which shows a number of new faces since the last time we saw Boro in action. There is a big loss in the heart of defence for the Smoggies, as expected, with Daniel Ayala failing to make the squad after a disrupted pre-season that saw him fail to feature a single time. Summer recruit Antonio Barragan fills the void alongside the trusted Ben Gibson.
A few eyebrows were raised when Victor Valdes joined Boro after leaving Manchester United earlier this summer, and the Spaniard has been given the nod between the sticks this afternoon - one of four home debutants. Marten de Roon is another of those to come in; the tough-tackling midfielder, who topped the interception charts in Italy's top flight last season, likely to become one of the Smoggies' most important players between now and next May.
There is no starting spot for Viktor Fischer up top, however, as he is made to start life at the Riverside Stadium on the bench. Alvaro Negredo is instead selected - the fourth of those new arrivals mentioned - no doubt looking to replicate the solid start to life he made at Manchester City the last time he competed in this division when scoring eight goals in 17 outings, although he ended life at the Etihad with a disappointing one in 15.
Stoke's only real fitness concern in the days leading up to this match was full-back Glenn Johnson who, as expected, fails to make the cut this afternoon. There was a major blow for the Potters on the eve of the campaign, however, when news emerged of a fresh ankle injury for Jack Butland. City's first-choice keeper tweeted a little earlier to confirm that it is not a long-term issue, but he will sit this one out with 40-year-old Shay Given brought into the side.
Marko Arnautovic missed the final trip of pre-season to Hamburg last week with a slight knock, but he is fit enough to start today's game where he will feature alongside Bojan Krkic and Xherdan Shaqiri. The Switzerland international also picked up a minor injury in that Hamburg friendly, although he too is ready to start the campaign in this curtain-raiser at the Riverside Stadium.
Stoke are still in the market for a new striker, with Saido Berahino looking likely to join in a £20m deal before the window closes, but for now it is left to Mame Biram Diouf to lead the line for the Potters. The striker should be offered plenty of support from that talented trident behind him, which includes two players who featured in this summer's European Championship finals in France.
BENCH WATCH!
MIDDLESBROUGH SUBS: Konstantopoulos, Rhodes, Fischer, Baptiste, Stuani, Forshaw, Nugent
STOKE CITY SUBS: Haugaard, Allen, Muniesa, Adam, Walters, Cameron, Crouch
Dimi Konstantopoulos will feel aggrieved that he must start the season on the bench, with Valdes unsurprisingly taking his place in goal. The absence of James Husband and Grant Leadbitter frees up spaces for others to come into the squad, but it is Viktor Fischer - a summer signing from Ajax - who particularly catches the eye on the Boro bench. There is only a place among the back-ups for Stoke's for Joe Allen, meanwhile, who may still be feeling the effects of a gruelling summer with Wales.
Aitor Karanka has named four of his new signings in today's starting lineup - Victor Valdes, Nolito, Antonio Barragan and Marten de Roon. Viktor Fischer is on the bench for the hosts, while Stoke have also decided to leave one of their big-name captures in Joe Allen out of the first-choice XI for this Riverside Stadium clash.
© Getty Images
So for a third season in succession last time out, Stoke finished ninth in the Premier League table. That follows five years of bottom-half finishes, so there is certainly an upward trajectory, but last year's campaign can very much be seen in one of two ways. A good, solid performance for a side now established at this level, or an underwhelming term on the whole when compared to the feat of Leicester City.
City stunned many when landing Shaqiri from Inter Milan this time last year, adding to a squad that now includes the like of Bojan, Ibrahim Affelay and Arnautovic, but the Potters struggled at times to find consistency in 2015-16. The latter of those aforementioned players rejected the advances of Everton this summer, instead preferring to commit himself to the Staffordshire side in the hope of perhaps leading a charge towards one of those top-six spots.
Mark Hughes is perhaps just one or two new players away from building a side capable of taking that next step and challenging for Europe, yet at the same time matching the ninth-placed finish of the last three seasons will also be difficult - it really could go either way. There was a lack of goals last season, hence the link with a £20m striker in Berahino, but will the West Bromwich Albion man really be prolific enough to help the Potters?
Stoke finished last season with a rather incredible goal difference of -14 - a tally usually associated with a side battling relegation. City also conceded more goals than any other top-flight side between the start of the year and the end of the season, so it is not just in attack that slight tweaks have been required. The capture of Joe Allen, a real coup for the club having been named in the Euro 2016 Team of the Tournament, could well help countryman Hughes at both ends of the field.
In terms of Stoke's pre-season schedule, they spent some time in the United States where they picked up their only victory - a 2-1 success over Orlando City last month. The Potters have a fairly tricky, but somewhat telling, start to the season, as they face both Everton and Tottenham Hotspur over the next fortnight - two teams they should be battling it out with for a top-six finish.
DID YOU KNOW? Middlesbrough have won just two of their previous 14 openers in the Premier League, although one of those came the last time they competed in the division when beating Tottenham to begin the 2008-09 season in style. The Smoggies have failed to win in any of their opening-day fixtures immediately following promotion, though, while Stoke have tasted victory in one of theirs since moving up from the Championship - against Burnley seven years ago.
It was very much a season to remember for Boro last season, then, as they finally earned promotion from the Championship at the seventh time of asking. It has been nothing but improvement since boss Aitor Karanka took over nearly three years ago, with the Spaniard - a close friend of Jose Mourinho, who he spent time working under at Real Madrid - guiding the club to 14th, fourth and second-placed finishes.
Karanka is an interesting manager to say the least. A mentor of Mourinho's, the Spaniard has had some high-profile disputes with players and coaching staff in the past at the Riverside Stadium, even being sent home for his disruptive behaviour on the even of a match against Charlton Athletic last season. He did receive the backing of owner Steve Gibson, however, guiding Boro to promotion in second place thanks to a solid run of form from that point on.
© Getty Images
It may well have been a different story entirely for Boro, who could have been preparing for trips to Burton and Rotherham had they not overcome Brighton in a final-day shootout in May. The Smoggies ensured that they went up automatically and therefore avoided another playoff run, which ended in a poor manner 12 months prior when failing to turn up in the final against Norwich City at Wembley Stadium.
A slow start to the campaign could very well change Gibson's view, but for now Karanka is very much respected and is firmly a part of Middlesbrough folklore for his work over the past two years in particular. Boro were very strong defensively last term, with Gibson and Ayala - the latter missing today - a key part of the side that would go on to win promotion to the top tier. They went a club-record nine games without conceding at one stage, while shipping just 31 goals overall.
Togetherness has been a key theme for the North-East outfit over the past 12 months, with Steve Gibson and Stewart Downing helping to connect supporters and players/ staff, and that feelgood factor has extended through the summer thanks to some shrewd captures in the transfer market. Barragan, Negredo, Fischer, De Roon, Valdes and permanent signing Gaston Ramirez can all certainly add something to this squad.
PREVIOUS MEETINGS! Boro have won four of the last 15 encounters between these two sides, losing eight of those. The Smoggies fell to a 1-0 defeat in the last meeting, with a late Ryan Shawcross goal earning victory for Stoke in March 2009. Boro boast a very strong home record in general, though, losing just two of 23 here last season.
With kickoff now a little over 10 minutes away at the Riverside Stadium, let us check out some of the pre-match thoughts from both camps.
Aitor Karanka: "It is amazing for everybody. We are a Premier League club and it is exciting for everyone. It is a big challenge but it is a good one for this football club, and especially for me. The main aim for us is to stay in the Premier League, and to build the foundations to be here for a long time. I was really pleased when Alvaro Negredo came here because he knows this league and has played at the top level. In the Premier League it is all about results. We have new players and one year in front of us to keep working and keep going."
Mark Hughes: "It's no secret that we made bids and have an interest in Berahino but it's not in our hands. He's a player at another club. If they don't want to sell and have no intention of selling, then there's nothing we can do. We just have to be patient. If the situation changes, then we'd be ready to sit down and talk, I'm sure. But in the last few weeks, it doesn't seem to have moved on to any great extent. It is where it is at the moment."
Hughes talking there about the club's pursuit of Berahino, who is named in Albion's starting lineup this afternoon and will remain a West Brom player until the Baggies bring in "five new faces", according to boss Tony Pulis. The Welshman may be forced to look elsewhere with his frustration clearly growing. Karanka just talking up the achievement of last season, meanwhile, and discussing the challenge ahead - it really will be a campaign to remember for those Boro fans.
Boro's pre-season programme saw them play six friendly fixtures, of which they won three and lost one. The last two ended in goalless draws, so Karanka hoping that Negredo - eight in 17 in the early days of his Man City career, remember - can spark something this afternoon to really get the party started. After today's game, the Smoggies head to Sunderland and Fulham for a league-and-cup double.
PREDICTION! There is a real buzz around the Riverside Stadium this afternoon, as Boro prepare to kick off what they hope will be a long and successful return to the Premier League. Stoke will have other ideas, of course, and while they do have plenty of players capable of spoiling the party, this one will prove to be an anti-climax as the sides play out a goalless affair in the North-East.
Both sets of players have now made their way into the tunnel area, where they are about to be greeted by a rapturous reception. Nothing quite beats the opening day of a league season, does it? Plenty of optimism up and down the land this weekend, but which of these sides will kick their season off in style? It is almost time to find out...
After a three-season absence, Premier League football returns to the Riverside Stadium this afternoon. Middlesbrough vs. Stoke City is just a matter of minutes from getting underway in the North-East.
KICKOFF! Stoke get us up and running at the Riverside Stadium, sporting their new away strip. Boro, in traditional red and white, will be looking to feed off this superb atmosphere which has been building all afternoon.
An awkward start to the match for stand-in Stoke keeper Given, who fails to catch Adomah's overhit cross and is happy to see the ball drop onto the roof of his net. Boro fail to make the most of the early corner and the visitors are given a chance to breath.
The Smoggies full of energy at the moment, as are this pumped up home crowd. All Boro in these opening five minutes, with Given again looking far from convincing when collecting a cross, but being let off with no home player nearby.
Never easy to visit a newly-promoted side on the opening day of the season, of course, which Stoke are beginning to learn. The visitors barely had a chance to attack so far, as Ramirez heads a corner a yard or so over the opposition bar.
Just a case of seeing out this early pressure as far as the Potters are concerned. City seeing more of the ball over the past couple of minutes, knocking it into the final third of the pitch but not really getting anywhere fast.
GOAL! MIDDLESBROUGH 1-0 STOKE CITY (ALVARO NEGREDO)
Middlesbrough are up and running in the Premier League with their first goal in seven years at this level! It was a simple one, in truth, as Ramirez jumped highest to nod the ball across goal for Negredo to do likewise when bundling in from a few yards out. A deserved goal for the hosts on the basis of the opening 10 minutes or so.
No sign of the atmosphere dropping at the Riverside, with supporters continuing to get right behind their side. City have still yet to get out of the traps; simply freezing in the opening quarter of this opening-day showdown in the North-East.
A chance for Stoke to assert some pressure on their opponents, but Bojan swings a corner right onto the roof of the net. Kevin Friend having a quick word with De Roon in the build-up, warning him not to pull back on Arnautovic.
City looking better since going behind, but Bojan has had another stinker here. The visitors breaking in numbers for the first time today, bu the ex-Barcelona forward takes on a shot from 40 yards out rather than looking to slip in Diouf.
A real blow for Middlesbrough, as De Roon hobbles off the pitch with the aid of two physios. I mentioned a little earlier that the £12m arrival from Atalanta would be a key player this term, but Boro will have to make do without him for the next 70 minutes.
MIDDLESBROUGH SUB! Well a good three minutes or so after De Roon hobbled down the tunnel, Adam Forshaw comes on in his place. Shawcross has just picked up a yellow for going through the back of Negredo - not for the first time today, which Friend is quick to remind him.
The ball falls awkwardly to Diouf in the box, but he cannot make any real connection with it. Stoke certainly looking better than they did before falling behind, although they have yet to have any shot of note at the Riverside.
Arnautovic goes in late on Clayton to concede a free kick. Still waiting for Stoke to truly get going in this game, with Boro very comfortable sitting on their one-goal lead at this stage in proceedings.
Bojan does very well to work some space for a cross, which is equally well defended by Boro. First glimpse that Stoke are perhaps starting to grow into the game, with a little over 15 minutes to go until the half-time interval.
YELLOW CARD! No complaints from Downing, as he becomes the latest to enter the referee's book following a late challenge. We have had more cautions than shots on goal so far, which is never a good sign!
YELLOW CARD! The referee pulls out his yellow card again, which looked to be shown to Ramirez for an elbow at first. Apparently not - Given the man given the caution for running up to the official, which is now an instant caution of course.
Just to clear up that previous situation, Ramirez was also shown a yellow for the initial elbow. So we are now on two bookings apiece with just 33 minutes on the clock at the Riverside Stadium.
The most stop-start of halves is hardly ideal for Stoke, who have so far been unable to get any sort of foothold on this contest. Just the one chance all afternoon, and indeed just the one attempt on target, which came via Negredo 11 minutes in.
OFF THE POST! Some really good pressure from Boro for the first time since they edged ahead. The first attack ends with a shot being completely mishit, but the second wave provided a better move as Ramirez got the better of Shawcross and hit a shot across goal which clipped the post on its way past.
Poor from Stoke, as they go short from a corner and are forced back before they can get a decent cross into the box. When the ball is eventually booted up-field it is far too straight for Shawcross to do anything with it, and the referee blew for a free kick regardless.
SHOT! Arnautovic makes himself known for the first time all afternoon, just getting a yard on Barragan and working a shooting position. The shot was blasted well over the bar, however, which left Diouf very frustrated to say the least.
OFF THE LINE! Ramirez using his height to good effect for a second time this afternoon, as he leaps on the line to deny Stoke a leveller. Shaqiri swung in a delightful ball from a corner, which skimmed off a couple of heads and was heading for the top corner if not for Ramirez.
Arnautovic and Shaqiri, two players who competed at Euro 2016, link up inside the opposition box but the latter can only hit the ball wide from a tight angle. He wanted a corner, and maybe should have got one, but Friend pointed the other way.
Friend does superbly down the right-hand flank to get the better of his man and put the ball into a decent area. No Boro player could react, however, so the scoreline will likely remain at 1-0 heading into the break. Shawcross has been required to head away a couple of corners from the front post.
HALF TIME: MIDDLESBROUGH 1-0 STOKE CITY
Referee Kevin Friend brings the first half to a close; a half that saw Boro deservedly edge ahead a little over 10 minutes in through Alvaro Negredo and easily hold on. Stoke have some of the finest attacking-midfield options in the division, but Shaqiri, Arnautovic and Bojan have each failed to really turn up so far in this opening-day clash.
It was a first half of very few chances, but Gaston Ramirez - who joined Boro on a permanent deal earlier this summer - was involved from the off when picking out Alvaro Negredo with a smart knockdown across goal. Negredo, a prolific forward during the first half of his Manchester City days, made no mistake from just a few yards out when making contact with the ball and putting the hosts into a deserved lead.
The Smoggies were forced into making a change with a quarter of the match played, with defensive-midfield lynchpin Marten de Roon - one of four home debutants - hobbling off to be replaced by Adam Forshaw. It was proving to be an extremely frustrating start to the season for Stoke, who just could not get going and so nearly fell two down when Ramirez got a yard on Ryan Shawcross and struck the outside of the post with his attempt.
Ramirez was proving to be the game's star performer, this time using his strong leap at the other end of the field to head a deflected City corner off the line to deny the visitors a leveller shortly before the interval. So Middlesbrough lead 1-0 at the interval, then, but surely we will see a stronger effort from Stoke City in the second half.
MIDDLESBROUGH SUBS: Konstantopoulos, Rhodes, Fischer, Baptiste, Stuani, Nugent
STOKE CITY SUBS: Haugaard, Allen, Muniesa, Adam, Walters, Cameron, Crouch
Mark Hughes was not a happy man in the first half. There is a good chance that the Welshman will make a change at the break, with summer signing Joe Allen among those on the bench at the Riverside Stadium.
© Getty Images
RESTART! No changes made by either side at the break, which does surprise me a little as far as Stoke are concerned. I expected Hughes to use the interval to change things around, but the Welshman clearly hoping that his strong words will do the job.
YELLOW CARD! Picking up from where we left off in the first half in terms of the caution count, as Phil Bardsley becomes the latest to enter the referee's book. Adomah was so nearly in on goal but Wollscheid got across brilliantly.
Boro the side on top in the opening five minutes of this second half, much like they were in the first. Stoke almost given a gift by Barragan, who was well short with his intended pass, but Valdes was there to rescue the defender.
Hughes must surely be thinking about making a change now. Seven minutes into the half and very little has change - Boro still looking very comfortable, with little defending to do. Jon Walters the man probably best placed to come on.
Diouf so incredibly isolated up top - still! Negredo is currently down and in need of some attention, which could well be the moment that Hughes brings on a fresh pair of legs or two. A very poor showing from Stoke today, but they are still right in it.
For pretty much the first time today, Stoke feed in Diouf down the flank with their other attacking players getting into the box. The subsequent cross is blocked away, but a promising sign nonetheless in front of the 32,000 watching supporters.
A quick throw releases Arnautovic, who cannot keep his shot down much like when blasting over in the first half. We are now edging towards the hour mark and still the one change made - an enforced one that saw Forshaw replace De Roon fairly early on.
Adomah does brilliantly to get away from his man and break into the box, although when looking up he fails to pick out a teammate. Stoke get forward moments later and win a corner which Bojan yet again makes a mess off. No sign of a substitute just yet.
Shaqiri given time and space to get at the opposition, only to blast his attempt high over the bar. Mark Hughes incredibly delaying this first change for a little while longer. No idea what the Welshman is waiting for with Stoke still in first gear.
Whelan outmuscled by Ramirez, who quickly looks to break away before being brought down by Imbula. The January signing avoids a booking on this occasion, while the Uruguayan receives some on-field treatment after taking a little blow to the face.
GOAL! MIDDLESBROUGH 1-1 STOKE CITY (XHERDAN SHAQIRI)
City have threatened to trouble the Boro backline over the past few minutes and, when finally getting their first shot on goal all afternoon, it creeps past Valdes and into the net. Shaqiri was the man to score it, taking on a free kick from 25 yards out which he perfectly curled home via the post.
STOKE CITY SUB! Mame Diouf is replaced by Jon Walters for the final 20 minutes or so, with Stoke now on a high. Two shots on goal all afternoon, two goals scored. Given collects a cross from wide to deny Negredo a tap-in, meanwhile.
CLOSE! Nsue sees his shot blocked behind for a corner, which is swung into a nice position for Gibson to meet with his head. He certainly met in cleanly, but the centre-back failed to find the target from 10 yards out.
Shaqiri trying a bit too hard with a flicked finish, but you cannot really blame him following his free kick less than 10 minutes ago. Game going through a very quiet spell at the moment, with both teams unable to muster any real attacking moves.
Stoke win themselves a contentious corner kick, which is worked towards Wollscheid at the back-post area. The centre-back is unable to test Valdes, however, so we remain at just the two shots on target this afternoon - both ending in the net.
STOKE CITY SUB! Joe Allen introduced at long last, with a little over 10 minutes left to play in the North-East. Bojan the man to make way following a below-par showing today; a couple of weak corners pretty much summing things up.
Shaqiri the one man on the field who is looking to make something happen in the final quarter of this match but, after beating one man down the right, he takes one touch too many and runs the ball straight out of play.
Boro have shown very, very little in this second half. Stoke have not done much better, in truth, but they do at least have some momentum on their side in these final stages of the contest. Could we see a late twist at the Riverside Stadium?
YELLOW CARD! Wollscheid and Ramirez have a little coming together inside the Boro box. The City defender appeared to be leading with his elbow when leaping for the ball, but he is shown just a yellow card by Kevin Friend.
Arnautovic is frustratingly caught offside out on the left-hand side - a good decision from the official. There has been no sign of either side winning this game late on, although if we are to see a third goal then Stoke are looking the more likely to find it.
MIDDLESBROUGH SUB! Half a chance at the back post for Adomah, who managed to creep his way in but could not quite test Given. Ramirez has now been replaced by Nugent with time fast ticking down for a late winner.
Clayton does well to stop Stoke from breaking forward in numbers, with Allen showing plenty of effort but unable to get the ball into an advanced position. Looking increasingly likely that we will end with just those two shots on target.
CHANCE! Boro's first on-target attempt since opening the scoring, and it comes right in the dying stages. Downing got on the end of a right-sided cross, but could only direct it into the hands of Given right down the middle.
Stoke win a free kick in a promising position with just a minute left to play, but Whelan and Arnautovic get it all wrong and the move ends disappointingly. Hughes will see plenty of room for improvement in the coming weeks, but at least it did not end in defeat today.
FULL TIME: MIDDLESBROUGH 1-1 STOKE CITY
Referee Kevin Friend blows for full time, which for the neutral is not such a bad thing following a rather disappointing clash at the Riverside Stadium. Both teams will be happy enough to have claimed a point, with Middlesbrough adjusting to life in the Premier League and Stoke City having to battle back from an early goal down.
Well that concludes Sports Mole's live text updates of events from the North-East, but be sure to check out this on-the-whistle report before heading off. Coverage of Man City's opening-day meeting with Sunderland is also underway right here, while reaction from all of today's games will following in the coming hours.
