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Boro scramble late draw

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Middlesbrough fought back from two-goals down to eventually earn themselves a point against Charlton Athletic in their final home game of the season.

Bradley Pritchard gave the visitors the lead inside the first minute and a Rhys Williams own-goal soon doubled their advantage.

However, Marvin Emnes pulled one back with fourteen minutes remaining and substitute Scott McDonald then claimed a late equaliser.

Boro couldn’t have had a worse start with Ricardo Fuller breaking down the left and crossing for Pritchard to fire his side ahead within thirty seconds.

The response found Mustapha Carayol lifting over from just inside the area and then forcing a block from goalkeeper Ben Hamer, while the visitors had strong penalty claims ignored as Fuller clashed with Williams inside the box.

But Charlton still went further in front when Yann Kermorgant’s cross deflected off Williams and into his own net following a Mark Gower free-kick.

Both Richie Smallwood and Emnes were wide of the mark in reply before Kermorgan was narrowly off-target following a strong break towards the other end.

Addicks keeper Hamer did gather a firm 25-yard effort from Adam Reach while Emnes went down without reward inside the area after an extended solo run.

Boro made a couple of changes early into the second-half and it was one of their replacements, McDonald, soon calling Hamer into action. He also allowed Emnes to slice another opportunity wide before Fuller replied by finding Jason Steele from distance.

With fourteen minutes remaining the home side suddenly found a way back into the contest as Emnes turned in Grant Leadbitter’s cross from the right.

Then after the visitors saw another effort ruled out for offside, they were pegged back on 87 minutes when McDonald headed in at the far post after Hamer misjudged Carayol’s corner.

Carayol had an even later effort straight at Hamer while a couple of penalty appeals for the visitors proved unsuccessful as the two sides were forced to settle for an outcome that neither really wanted.

Middlesbrough: Steele, Hoyte, Bikey, R. Williams, Halliday, Reach (Ledesma 54), Leadbitter, Smallwood, Emnes (L. Williams 78), Carayol, Main (McDonald 54)

subs (unused): Leutwiler, Burgess, Bailey, Haroun

Goals: Emnes (76), McDonald (87)

Charlton Athletic: Hamer, Morrison, Wiggins, Solly, Dervite, Pritchard, Gower, Hollands, Harriotts (Kerkar 80), Kermorgant, Fuller (Obika 80)

subs (unused): Button, Taylor, Green, Wilson, Haynes

Goals: Pritchard (1), R. Williams OG (17)

Ref: Drysdale

Att: 15,011

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