Chuba Akpom’s first goals in a Boro shirt for 16 months secured Chris Wilder’s men a deserved point against Sheffield United.
Wilder’s side showed great character to come from behind twice and Akpom, who spent last season on loan with PAOK, scored his first goals of the season to ensure honours finished even from what was both an entertaining and feisty clash.
It took three minutes for the visitors to snatch the lead. Billy Sharp was involved in the build-up before Berge turned well and sent a shot across Zack Steffen and into the far corner.
Boro’s response was almost immediate, Wes Foderingham scrambling to turn a Giles cross away for a corner. And from the resultant set-piece, the former Rangers goalkeeper flapped again as he punched it away.
Tempers flared inside the opening 10 minutes when Sharp clashed unnecessarily with Jonny Howson, and Sharp and Riley McGree were both booked.
Moments later, it was all level after some great Boro play. Marcus Forss held the ball up well and Paddy McNair and Anfernee Dijksteel were both involved before Isaiah Jones played in a great ball for Akpom to open his account for the season.
Foderingham almost handed Boro second when he cleared the ball straight to Akpom and it almost fell to Forss.
It was a feisty affair with an electric atmosphere. Tackles were flying and there was a real edge to the contest.
Akpom sent a first time strike just over the bar and Foderingham had to react well to keep out a McGree strike.
Five minutes before half-time, the visitors did have the ball in the net from a free-kick, but an offside flag ensured it wouldn’t count.
Wilder made a change at half-time with Marc Bola replacing Dael Fry at the back.
Boro were looking at the referee when Jones appeared to be brought down by Max Lowe, but not for the first time Andre Marriner was unmoved.
At the other end, Steffen was called upon to save well from Lowe after a Blades counter. Boro’s response was a cross from Jones which had just too much on for Forss to get on the end of.
With 30 minutes left on the clock, Alex Mowatt became the latest player to make his Boro debut when he came on as a sub to replace Forss.
It was the Blades who got their noses back in front when Iliman Ndiaye found space behind to whip the ball across the face of goal and the unfortunate Giles turned it into his own goal.
Again, Boro looked to respond immediately. Darragh Lenihan met a Jonny Howson free-kick and headed back across goal, but the opportunity couldn’t be converted.
Wilder introduced Duncan Watmore in place of Dijksteel for the closing stages as Boro looked to take something from the contest.
The deserved leveller came eight minutes from time. Giles whipped in a cross Lenihan headed it on to the head of Akpom who converted his second of the afternoon.
Boro had a chance to win the game in the final five minutes when Giles drilled in another great ball, and Watmore saw his shot come back off the upright.
In stoppage time, Lenihan was denied by a tremendous save from Foderingham as Boro finished the con test pressing for the winner.
