Match ends, Middlesbrough 1, Blackpool 1.
MiddlesbroughMiddlesbrough1BlackpoolBlackpool1
Ishmael Miller scored against his former club to earn Blackpool only their third point of the season with a hard-fought draw at Middlesbrough.
Midway through the first half Daniel Ayala headed in the opener for the home side, who are now eighth in the league.
But Miller, who spent a season on loan at Boro two years ago, poked in the equaliser soon after.
Andrea Orlandi almost got a winner for Blackpool but his deflected shot was saved by keeper Dimi Konstantopoulos.
Blackpool remain bottom of the Championship, five points from safety, while Boro are 16 places above them on 17 points.
| Match facts | |
|---|---|
| Middlesbrough have lost only one of their past six games in all competitions. | Blackpool have not won any of their 11 games in all competitions this season, losing eight. |
| This was their first home draw of the season, having won three and lost two of their five other games at the Riverside Stadium. | They have lost four of their six away games, drawing the other two. |
The home side had started strongly without creating too many chances, but Emmanuel Ledesma's powerful 20-yard drive saw Joe Lewis produce a fine save.
However, Lewis was beaten soon after when Ayala nodded over the Blackpool keeper after Jeffrey Rentmeister failed to clear Ledesma's header.
Blackpool boss Jose Riga will have been buoyed by his players' response to that goal, as they fashioned an equaliser six minutes later, Miller scoring from Joan Oriol's fine cross.
The visitors finished the first half strongly, going closest to taking the lead through Orlandi, but Boro regrouped for the second half and enjoyed a period of dominance.
Defender Donervon Daniels denied Patrick Bamford with a fine, sliding challenge while Lewis kept out Lee Tomlin's fierce volley as Blackpool kept the hosts at bay to secure a point.
Middlesbrough boss Aitor Karanka:
"I said yesterday that if we want to do something this season, these are the kinds of games where we cannot lose points.
"We made mistakes and played in a way I didn't like. But we are just three points from top.
"The performance was a surprise because we had recovered our consistency and confidence. Now we have to recover it again."
Blackpool manager Jose Riga:
"I am satisfied. I will obviously be happier when we get our first win but I am satisfied.
"We have to build on good results. We created some chances to win and this is certainly the first step.
"This (season) is the first time the players have played together; our story has started this season."
Line-ups
Middlesbrough
Formation 4-4-2
- 13Konstantopoulos
- 5Fredericks
- 4AyalaBooked at 45mins
- 6Gibson
- 17Husband
- 11LedesmaSubstituted forNsueat 75'minutes
- 8ClaytonSubstituted forKikeat 29'minutes
- 7LeadbitterBooked at 41mins
- 20Reach
- 23Bamford
- 10Tomlin
Substitutes
- 3Friend
- 9Kike
- 22Omeruo
- 24Nsue
- 28Morris
- 33Wildschut
- 46Blackman
Blackpool
Formation 4-4-2
- 1Lewis
- 29McMahon
- 2Daniels
- 28RentmeisterBooked at 58mins
- 3Oriol
- 22Cubero LoriaSubstituted forLundstramat 45'minutes
- 4PerkinsBooked at 60mins
- 11OrlandiSubstituted forMellisat 60'minutes
- 23OriolSubstituted forZokoat 90'minutes
- 17Miller
- 14Delfouneso
Substitutes
- 7Cywka
- 8Mellis
- 13Zoko
- 16Dielna
- 20Zenjov
- 21Parish
- 24Lundstram
- Referee:
- Paul Tierney
- Attendance:
- 15,213
Match Stats
Home TeamMiddlesbroughAway TeamBlackpool
- Possession
- Home58%
- Away42%
- Shots
- Home19
- Away10
- Shots on Target
- Home5
- Away4
- Corners
- Home6
- Away3
- Fouls
- Home13
- Away11
Live Text
Post update
Full Time
Second Half ends, Middlesbrough 1, Blackpool 1.
Post update
Foul by Ben Gibson (Middlesbrough).
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Ishmael Miller (Blackpool) wins a free kick in the attacking half.
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Foul by Kike (Middlesbrough).
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Donervon Daniels (Blackpool) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
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Corner, Middlesbrough. Conceded by Jeffrey Rentmeister.
Substitution
Substitution, Blackpool. Francois Zoko replaces Edu Oriol.
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James Husband (Middlesbrough) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
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Foul by Ishmael Miller (Blackpool).
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Attempt saved. Kike (Middlesbrough) left footed shot from the left side of the box is saved in the bottom left corner. Assisted by Ben Gibson with a headed pass.
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Offside, Middlesbrough. Grant Leadbitter tries a through ball, but Emilio Nsue Lopez is caught offside.
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Attempt saved. Jacob Mellis (Blackpool) right footed shot from outside the box is saved in the centre of the goal.
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Attempt blocked. Tony McMahon (Blackpool) right footed shot from outside the box is blocked. Assisted by David Perkins.
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Attempt missed. Kike (Middlesbrough) left footed shot from the centre of the box misses to the left.
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Attempt blocked. Emilio Nsue Lopez (Middlesbrough) right footed shot from the centre of the box is blocked.
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Attempt blocked. Kike (Middlesbrough) right footed shot from the right side of the box is blocked. Assisted by Adam Reach.
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Attempt saved. Kike (Middlesbrough) right footed shot from the centre of the box is saved in the bottom right corner. Assisted by Grant Leadbitter with a cross.
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Corner, Middlesbrough. Conceded by Joan Oriol.
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Attempt missed. John Lundstram (Blackpool) with an attempt from very close range misses to the right. Assisted by Tony McMahon with a cross.