Middlesbrough held to a sticky draw by visiting Stoke… but edge closer to just three points behind promotion rivals Sheffield United
- Boro drew first blood with top-scorer Chuba Akpom netting after 20 minutes
- But Ki-Jana Hoever drew Stoke level moments before the half-time whistle
- Stoke inch within three points of second-placed Sheffield United
Chuba Akpom grabbed a landmark goal but Middlesbrough missed a chance to turn up the heat on promotion rivals Sheffield United.
Boro’s 24-goal top scorer swept Michael Carrick’s side ahead midway through the first half with a slick 60-yard counter-attack started and finished by the in-form striker – the Teessiders’ 1000th goal at the Riverside.
Akpom could have helped himself to a first-half hat-trick as he fired wide after pouncing on Ben Wilmot’s weak back-pass before sending a curling 20-yard effort against the bar.
Chuba Akpom once again found the back of the net for Middlesbrough
Wolves loanee Ki-Jana Hoever levelled the score moments before the half-time whistle
Manager Michael Carrick has lifted Middlesbrough to third in the Championship
Mid-table Stoke hit back on the stroke of half-time through Ki-Jana Hoever, the on-loan Wolves defender firing through the legs of keeper Zack Steffen from Josh Laurent’s crossfield pass to make it three goals in five days for the Dutch youngster.
Jack Bonham beat out Riley McGree second-half free-kick but Jacob Brown and Will Smallbone came close to a late winner for Stoke as Boro had to settle for cutting the gap to the second-placed Blades to three points after a 10th game unbeaten at home in the league.
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