Battling Boro dig deep and do what it takes to ensure they avoid defeat

MIDDLESBROUGH showed their battling qualities to twice come from behind to draw at Preston North End.

- By CRAIG JOHNS

Boro were twice forced to cancel out Preston goals from Lewis Dobbin and Jordan Storey, with the latter looking like a match-winning goal in the 88th minute.

But goals from Matt Targett and Sontje Hansen earned Boro a point.

It ensured Rob Edwards' side remained unbeaten at the start of the Championship season, even if they missed out on making history by becoming the first Boro side in history to win the first five of a new campaign.

Here's the debrief after the game, with a number of takeaways.

THE GOALS

22 mins: Preston 1-0, Dobbin - A simple pass through the Boro midfield finds Dobbin in the hole and he's given time to drive to the edge before beating Ayling too easily and firing beyond Brynn.

72 mins: Boro 1-1, Targett - A goal all about Nypan, just seven minutes after his introduction. Wonderful skill from the Man City loanee to skip past two men and get into the box before sliding it across the box. Conway's effort is blocked but it falls to Targett who fires home.

88 mins: Preston 2-1, Storey - With Boro pushing for a winner they're caught on the counter and have to concede a corner.

From that set-piece, they allow Storey to escape his man, running around the group of players in the middle, to head home free of attention.

90+2 mins: Boro 2-2, Hansen - Both Hansen and Browne are claiming it and four replays are inconclusive.

Hansen has officially been credited with it, however. It's ultimately immaterial with the important thing being that it went in.