By Middlesbrough FC

Boro took a point from Luton Town after surviving a first half onslaught from the hosts.

The Teessiders were put under pressure by the relegation-battling Hatters, who had a number of opportunities to break the deadlock in the first 45 minutes.

Michael Carrick’s men imposed themselves on the game more successfully after half-time, restricting the home side and claiming a share of the spoils.

46%

Possession

54%
19

Shots

6
5

Shots On Target

0
9

Corners

1
18

Fouls

12

2

0

Cards

3

0

Boro were unchanged from the team which defeated Queens Park Rangers in midweek as they aimed to do the double over the Hatters.

But it was a difficult first half for the away side, with Luton making their intentions known from the first whistle.

Liam Walsh had two efforts, one of which was well saved by Mark Travers, while Thelo Aasgaard fired over from within the six-yard box, all within the first 10 minutes.

Travers kept out another Aasgaard strike shortly afterwards, with the Boro stopper also denying Elijah Adebayo after he was played in on goal.

Boro breathed another sigh of relief when Sam Iling-Junior cleared just as Adebayo was about to head home and in stoppage time, Travers made a brilliant fingertip stop from Carlton Morris.

Luton: Kaminski, Makosso, McGuinness, Bell, Jones, Walsh (Fanne 70'), Clark, Aasgaard, Doughty (Alli 70'), Morris, Adebayo (Brown 55')

Subs: Naismith, Burke, Brown (Nordås 69'), Alli, Fanne, Krul, Nelson, Nordås, Bowler

Middlesbrough: Travers, Dijksteel, Howson, Neto Borges, Iling-Junior, Morris, Hackney, Burgzorg, Iheanacho, Azaz, Conway (Forss 75')

Subs: Barlaser, Whittaker, Forss, Glover, Giles, Woolston, McCormick, Dede, McCabe

The second half started in calmer fashion as Boro asserted an element of control.

We almost took the lead in style when Finn Azaz received the ball with his back to goal, turned and struck narrowly past the post from 25 yards.

There was a close shave at the other end, with Mark McGuinness heading wide from a free-kick for the Hatters.

Iling-Junior brilliantly blocked from Lasse Nordas in the closing stages as Boro saw things out for a point.