Middlesbrough 1-1 Stoke

Middlesbrough 1-1 Stoke

After a difficult start to the season, Michael Carrick's side have won their last two matches and will look to make it three in a row when they host Stoke City on Tuesday night. A win would reduce the gap to second-placed Sheffield United to three points and give them momentum going into crucial matches against Hull and Sunderland.

Between these sides, there was some great football to be witnessed as the match ended in a draw. Xherdan Shaqiri stood out among other performers by scoring an amazing 67th-minute penalty to cancel out Alvaro Negredo's first-half opener; unfortunately for Boro keeper Victor Valdes, his goalbound effort could not be saved by Valdes.

Shaqiri scored his third goal of the season, but has struggled to replicate his form from before he was loaned out to Inter Milan. He was on target twice but both efforts were disqualified for offside and he also hit the bar in a late chance.

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Ten minutes into the game, Chuba Akpom gave Boro the lead with his 23rd league goal of the season; however Ki-Jana Hoever levelled things up before halftime in a hard-fought battle that neither side had many chances to take.

In the second half, it appeared as though Stoke might have taken control when Mario Vrancic managed to break through the defense only for Fry to block his cutback attempt. A minute later, Jacob Brown headed narrowly wide from close range after being picked out by a cross from the left.

Even in their poor display, Stoke still had plenty of fight and determination as they kept pushing forward in search of a winner. Will Smallbone was always a threat and came close with a low drive that just missed.

As a result, Boro were forced to play with an abundance of men up front as they attempted to claw their way back into the game. With Shaqiri, Bojan Krkic and Arnautovic all on the pitch, Boro did look slightly more lively but it wasn't until the 76th-minute that they finally managed to find a way past Jack Bonham.

From the start, it was a stop-start game for Boro. However, after the break things really began to open up for them as they began creating some chances - one of which came from Boro keeper Given who raced from his line in protest over Gaston Ramirez's challenge on Erik Pieters.

After the break, Boro were able to get their act together and it was Shaqiri who saved them with a goal from close range that cancelled out Negredo's opener. It was an impressive display from Switzerland international Shaqiri - who has become one of Boro's key players this season.

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