Middlesbrough came from behind to claim a fully deserved 1-1 draw with Tottenham at White Hart Lane.
Downing strike levels after Grounds own-goal
Middlesbrough came from behind to claim a fully deserved 1-1 draw with Tottenham at White Hart Lane.
Spurs went ahead just before the half-hour mark when Jonathon Grounds deflected an Aaron Lennon effort past Mark Schwarzer.
But Boro responded in fine fashion as they proceeded to dominate the second half and an equaliser always looked likely.
It arrived on 69 minutes when England winger Stewart Downing cut in from the left onto his right foot and fired past Radek Cerny from 35 yards - although Jermaine Jenas' deflection played a major part.
Boro should have then sealed the win through their Brazilian striker Afonso Alves as he was sent clear by Adam Johnson with ten minutes left, but he fired just inches past the post after beating Cerny.
Ruled out
Boro thought they had taken the lead with just 73 seconds on the clock.
Pascal Chimbonda's slip allowed Gary O'Neil down the right and Alves tapped in after Jeremie Aliadiere met the cross first time and Radek Cerny parried - but the strike was ruled out for offside.
Jenas fired over from the edge of the area and it was Lennon's perseverance that set up Spurs' first real chance when he robbed George Boateng in midfield.
The ball was spread to Keane and the cross was met by Berbatov but Mark Schwarzer did not have to move to make the save.
Jenas then went on a driving run, aided by a back-heel from Keane, and went beyond the Boro defence. His progress was only stopped when Schwarzer rushed out to smother the shot.
The opener came in the 26th minute and Berbatov took the plaudits despite Grounds getting the last touch. He flicked the ball over the Boro defence for Jenas to break the offside trap as Keane ran backwards from an offside position.
Jenas lost momentum but fed Dimitar Berbatov on the right flank. The Bulgaria striker flicked the ball up and volleyed over a cross that Lennon met first time, with the ball going in off Grounds' knee.
Boro, who had Emanuel Pogatetz booked for a foul soon after the opener, looked for a way back into the game.
They were almost gifted a chance when Cerny came out to claim and dropped the ball on the edge of the area to prevent handball, but he managed to scramble clear.
Off the line
In the second half, David Wheater met a corner with a firm header and it required Lennon, the smallest player on the pitch, to head off the line as he guarded the post.
Alves also played Jeremie Aliadiere down the right channel and Michael Dawson was over to block the Frenchman's shot.
Spurs could have extended their lead on the hour mark when Berbatov's finish, after Keane had flicked on Alan Hutton's cross, came off the post.
The response of Boro boss Southgate was to take Grounds off for Adam Johnson. Fabio Rochemback also came on, for Julio Arca.
Alves got another sight of goal soon after and it took another brave block from Dawson to deny him.
But Boro were level with 21 minutes remaining through Downing's fortunate strike.
Choosing to shoot with his unfavoured right foot, the winger's shot from 25 yards took a deflection off Jenas' head before going in.
Alves raced through and could have sealed it, but his finish went just wide. Then in a goal-mouth scramble Gilberto had to clear when Tuncay Sanli shot.
| Tottenham Hotspur |
Team Statistics |
Middlesbrough |
| 1 |
Goals |
1 |
| 1 |
1st Half Goals |
0 |
| 4 |
Shots on Target |
3 |
| 3 |
Shots off Target |
7 |
| 6 |
Blocked Shots |
7 |
| 3 |
Corners |
7 |
| 7 |
Fouls |
20 |
| 0 |
Offsides |
1 |
| 0 |
Yellow Cards |
3 |
| 0 |
Red Cards |
0 |
| 74.9 |
Passing Success |
72.3 |
| 34 |
Tackles |
30 |
| 76.5 |
Tackles Success |
70 |
| 49.6 |
Possession |
50.4 |
| 47.6 |
Territorial Advantage |
52.4 |
|
