Neil Ryan’s charges we forced to settle for a share of the spoils following an entertaining and well-balanced contest against the visitors from Teesside.
There was a distinct autumnal chill in the air ahead of the game but it was also bright and sunny to provide excellent conditions.
Middlesbrough listed just four substitutes when the teams were announced and their personnel was further depleted before kick-off when central defender Andy Wilson was withdrawn from the visitors’ starting XI, presumably after picking up an injury in the warm-up, to be replaced by Isiah Cornet.
The game took a little time to click into gear with very few chances being made but, from the off, the play suggested that was going to be a highly competitive fixture.