Sheffield Wednesday and Middlesbrough remain rooted in the Championship relegation zone after sharing the spoils at Hillsborough.
After an early stoppage due to home fans throwing tennis balls on the pitch in protest at their ownership, Wednesday took the lead when Anthony Musaba fired in from seven yards.
Darragh Lenihan levelled shortly after half-time, turning home a corner, and, from there, the visitors began to take control.
Boro’s Matt Crooks had a goal disallowed for offside as the visitors had the better of the second period although George Byers missed a good late chance for Wednesday.
Both teams have just two points apiece after seven games with Wednesday above bottom side Boro by virtue of the Owls’ superior goal difference.
Wednesday defender Pol Valentin had an early long-range effort saved before another shot from the Spaniard was almost diverted in by Ashley Fletcher at the far post.
There was a short delay after a section of Wednesday fans lobbed tennis balls on to the surface in protest at chairman Dejphon Chansiri, and Boro went close to taking the lead 11 minutes later when Samuel Silvera’s effort from six yards out was blocked after a good cross from Josh Coburn.
Josh Windass was forced off with an injury, and it was his replacement Musaba who put the Owls ahead as he side-footed home Di’Shon Bernard’s cross after the centre-back’s run from deep was picked out by Valentin.
Boro improved after the break as Silvera went close with an early effort before Lenihan took advantage of some poor defending to turn in the equaliser.
Crooks thought he had put Boro ahead soon after as he stooped to nod in a Lenihan header, but he had just got in front of the last defender and was flagged offside while Coburn cut in from the left and rifled a shot just past the Wednesday far post.
But the Owls could have won it in the 90th minute when the ball fell to Byers on the edge of the box, only for his attempt to curl an effort into the left corner to go well wide and sum up both sides’ misfiring starts to the season.
Middlesbrough manager Michael Carrick told BBC Radio Tees:
“It was a game of two halves. The first half I felt for the players when things aren’t clicking – maybe an element of doubt was creeping in. Going behind really kick-started us and gave us that freedom to go and chase the game down and show what we’re capable of.
“There are two sides to it – I’m really encouraged because the performance is in there, but we can’t keep giving ourselves too much to do. It’s frustrating and disappointing but I am hugely proud of the players for the second half.
“It was not an easy place to be in that dressing room at half-time when you’ve had a run like we have but the players went out and faced the music and bounced back so I’m really proud of them.”
Line-ups
Sheff Wed
Formation 3-4-2-1
- 36Vasquez
- 17Bernard
- 5Diaby
- 23Fame too
- 14Valentin
- 22HendrickSubstituted forByersat 59′minutesBooked at 86mins
- 10Bonds
- 15DelgadoSubstituted forPalmerat 69′minutes
- 21BuckleySubstituted forBakinsonat 69′minutes
- 11WindassBooked at 31minsSubstituted forPlease applyat 35′minutes
- 27FletcherSubstituted forGregoryat 59′minutes
Substitutes
- 1Dawson
- 2Palmer
- 8Byers
- 9Gregory
- 13Paterson
- 19Bakinson
- 24Smith
- 41Gassama
- 45Please apply
Middlesbrough
Formation 4-2-3-1
- 1Dieng
- 3van den Berg
- 6Fry
- 26Lenihan
- 27EngelSubstituted forJonesat 45′minutesBooked at 48mins
- 7Hackney
- 28O’Brien
- 18SilveraSubstituted forRogersat 90′minutes
- 25Crooks
- 8McGreeSubstituted forGreenwoodat 68′minutes
- 19Coburn
Substitutes
- 2Smith
- 4Barlaser
- 9Latte Lath
- 10Rogers
- 11Jones
- 16Howson
- 17McNair
- 23Glover
- 29Greenwood
- Referee:
- David Webb
- Attendance:
- 22,975
Live Text
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Match ends, Sheffield Wednesday 1, Middlesbrough 1.
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Second Half ends, Sheffield Wednesday 1, Middlesbrough 1.
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Attempt missed. Sam Greenwood (Middlesbrough) right footed shot from outside the box is just a bit too high from a direct free kick.
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Lewis O’Brien (Middlesbrough) wins a free kick in the attacking half.
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Foul by Barry Bannan (Sheffield Wednesday).
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Corner, Middlesbrough. Conceded by Di’Shon Bernard.
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Attempt missed. George Byers (Sheffield Wednesday) left footed shot from the centre of the box is close, but misses to the left. Assisted by Lee Gregory.
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Substitution, Middlesbrough. Morgan Rogers replaces Samuel Silvera.
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George Byers (Sheffield Wednesday) is shown the yellow card for a bad foul.
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Samuel Silvera (Middlesbrough) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
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Foul by George Byers (Sheffield Wednesday).
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Foul by Samuel Silvera (Middlesbrough).
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Anthony Musaba (Sheffield Wednesday) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
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Attempt blocked. Pol Valentín (Sheffield Wednesday) right footed shot from outside the box is blocked.
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Corner, Sheffield Wednesday. Conceded by Rav van den Berg.
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Josh Coburn (Middlesbrough) wins a free kick in the attacking half.
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Foul by Liam Palmer (Sheffield Wednesday).
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Seny Dieng (Middlesbrough) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
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Foul by Lee Gregory (Sheffield Wednesday).
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Corner, Sheffield Wednesday. Conceded by Darragh Lenihan.