Middlesbrough battle back for point but miss chance to go top

Middlesbrough missed out on the chance to climb to the top of the Sky Bet Championship despite coming from behind to earn a 2-2 draw with Millwall. The Lions deservedly led by two goals at the break after capitalising on Boro's unconvincing start.

Strike duo Tairyk Arconte and Lyndon Dykes put Millwall in the driving seat after finding the net in the 11th and 36th minutes respectively.

But Middlesbrough, who controlled possession for most of the game, recovered to claim a point after head coach Kim Hellberg made three changes at half-time.

The excellent Amario Cozier-Duberry scored his second goal since arriving on loan from Brighton in the 50th minute, before striker Will Lankshear headed in his eighth of the season to equalise just after the hour.

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That result lifted Middlesbrough to third place, despite breaking their 100 per cent home record.

Millwall took the early lead when Arconte, signed from French Ligue 2 side Rodez in the summer, darted past Luke Ayling before cutting back and striking low in off Radek Vitek's near post.

The 22-year-old's third goal of the season seemed the perfect response to Millwall's recent away slump, which had seen them concede eight goals on their last two trips.

Hellberg's side controlled most of the play after that opener, forcing Millwall to defend strongly.

Middlesbrough's closest chance in the opening half-hour was when Max Crocombe turned Lankshear's scrappy back-post volley over the bar.

But Middlesbrough looked threatened by the presence of Arconte and Dykes.

After conceding a corner just before half-time, the home side found themselves two goals down after failing to clear the ball into the box.

Jenson Metcalfe's delivery was met by Derek Mazou-Sacko's downward header, which Caleb Taylor flicked back across goal for Dykes, left out of new coach Sebastien Pocognoli's first Scotland squad, to turn in.

Hellberg disliked what he saw and introduced substitutes Kyle Joseph, Max Arfsten and Jeremy Sarmiento for the second half.

Within minutes Crocombe had to dive to his right to save a curling effort from Cozier-Duberry that energised the home fans.

Cozier-Duberry did not wait long for a goal. After Millwall failed to deal with a corner effectively, the London-born trickster's deflected effort hit the net.

Middlesbrough had lift-off. Just after the hour Lankshear headed in Ayling's deep cross to the back post to level the score.

Yet Vitek still had to make a point-blank save to stop substitute Elkan Baggott from heading Millwall back in front.

After that, the question was whether Middlesbrough would win it. Cozier-Duberry had a couple of chances, while Sarmiento curled an effort just wide of the upright as Millwall survived with a point.

The managers

Middlesbrough's Kim Hellberg:

"It was a weird game because they didn't create many chances but scored two in the first half, and we were not doing things we want to; it was below our standard and this game was on me.

"Amario was the best player in the first half, continued second half, you can see the quality he has. I am very happy with him, but we are putting ourselves in tough situations.

"In the first half we were below our standard, energy-wise and in general, but the group keeps showing the character they have is very strong; to come from two goals down and create chances, which we have done since we started the season.

"I had a lot of players who did brilliantly against Norwich, who maybe didn't have the energy tonight. I got some decisions wrong, that's on me."

Millwall's Alex Neil:

"There are very few times that I would say I'd take a point before the game because I set out to win every game, but after the last two away results we had to set out to be hard to beat.

"Normally we would deal with the goals we have conceded tonight, but I can't fault the lads for their effort.

"From our perspective, we came here to stodge the game up, hit on the counter.

"Everyone connected with Millwall knows we are down to the bare bones, we have 14 injuries, and I have to try to give the lads the best chance to win a game.

"There was a long time left on the clock after (the equaliser); we had to rally."

What the result means and next fixtures...

Championship fixtures

Source: Sky Sports