Boro were denied maximum points as Sheffield Wednesday launched a Boxing Day fightback.
We found ourselves three goals up at the break after Ben Doak opened the scoring and Finn Azaz added two more.
But the scores were level less than 16 minutes into the second half in a period which also saw Boro reduced to 10 men.
The hosts battled through the remainder of the game and had half-chances to go back in front, but it ended in a point apiece.
Possession
43%Shots
16Shots On Target
5Corners
9Fouls
120
1
Cards
2
0
Boro started with a Christmas spring in their steps and took the lead after less than five minutes.
Azaz broke free down the left of the area and produced an inch-perfect cross which Doak headed into an empty net at the back post.
Our second came on the quarter-hour as Azaz turned from provider to goalscorer, guiding a controlled effort into the bottom corner after a drive inside from Neto Borges.
Azaz notched his second and Boro’s third on the half-hour, flicking home from close range after Doak had found Hayden Hackney and his initial shot was blocked.
The away side grew into the game from there, with Barry Bannan clearing the crossbar with a 25-yard half volley, Josh Windass heading wide with the goal gaping and Marvin Johnson firing past the post from just outside the box.
The scoreline could have been more comfortable for Boro at the break, but Borges’ 20-yard strike went narrowly wide.
Middlesbrough: Brynn (Glover 60'), Dijksteel, Fry, van den Berg, Neto Borges (Engel 90'), Barlaser, Hackney, Doak (Jones 60'), Azaz (Clarke 59'), Burgzorg, Conway (Latte Lath 9')
Subs: Clarke, McGree, Latte Lath, Jones, Gilbert, Hamilton, Glover, Engel, McCabe
Sheffield Wed: Beadle, Iorfa, Otegbayo (Ingelsson 45'), Lowe, Valery (Valentín 76'), Shea Charles, Bannan, Johnson, Windass (Ugbo 87'), Gassama (Smith 87'), Lowe (Chalobah 45')
Subs: Chalobah, Ingelsson, Ugbo, Paterson, Valentín, McNeill, Kobacki, Smith, Pierce Charles
Wednesday made two substitutions at half-time and one of those changes produced an immediate impact, with Svante Ingelsson slamming home just over a minute after the restart.
The Boro lead was reduced to one on 54 minutes when Windass bundled the ball home after good work from Djeidi Gassama.
The frantic opening to the second half continued as Rav van den Berg was sent off for a second booking less than a minute later.
Sol Brynn was then called into an excellent save from Windass before Dom Iorfa fired the rebound over.
Brynn was forced off with an injury sustained when making the stop, with Tom Glover brought on for his first appearance of the season.
Wednesday’s equaliser came just after the hour as Yan Valery headed home from a corner.
Wednesday made two substitutions at half-time and one of those changes produced an immediate impact, with Svante Ingelsson slamming home just over a minute after the restart.
The Boro lead was reduced to one on 54 minutes when Windass bundled the ball home after good work from Djeidi Gassama.
The frantic opening to the second half continued as Rav van den Berg was sent off for a second booking less than a minute later.
Sol Brynn was then called into an excellent save from Windass before Dom Iorfa fired the rebound over.
Brynn was forced off with an injury sustained when making the stop, with Tom Glover brought on for his first appearance of the season.
Wednesday’s equaliser came just after the hour as Yan Valery headed home from a corner.
Boro steadied themselves and were able to restrict the visitors in the next period of the game.
There was almost an opening for substitute Isaiah Jones on the break with 10 minutes remaining, but his 20-yard strike was saved.
Emmanuel Latte Lath kept us level with four minutes remaining with a tremendous covering run from a Boro corner as he chased Gassama down the length of the pitch before producing a superb tackle.
Bannan curled wide early into seven minutes of stoppage time and that proved to be the final opening as the game ended in a draw.
