Middlesbrough’s promotion push met stubborn resistance at the Riverside Stadium as Riley McGree’s first-half stoppage-time strike salvaged a 1-1 draw against a Leicester City side who again showed clear signs of life under Gary Rowett. Caleb Okoli had earlier stunned the home crowd by heading the relegation-threatened visitors in front from a Divine Mukasa free-kick, only for McGree to level from Tommy Conway’s cut-back just before the interval.
The point keeps Boro second in the Championship, two points behind leaders Coventry City, but Kim Hellberg’s team have now gone three league games without a win after previously stringing together six victories in a row. For Leicester, who remain third from bottom and are without a win in eight, this was a second successive draw under Rowett and an encouraging performance that suggested they have the organisation and spirit to claw their way out of danger.
Fast Boro Start, Then a Set-Piece Sting from the Foxes
Middlesbrough began like a side intent on correcting the weekend stalemate against Oxford United. They pushed Leicester back early, with Matt Targett’s curling free-kick forcing Asmir Begovic to palm the ball away and Conway immediately testing the visitors’ resolve down the left. Conway was slipped into space and drove into the box, only for Okoli to recover and bundle his effort behind as the hosts piled pressure around the Foxes’ area.