MIDDLESBROUGH claimed a point on their return to the Premier League as their opening game of the season ended in a 1-1 draw with Stoke City.

The Teessiders dominated the first half at the Riverside and claimed a deserved lead through Spanish striker Alvaro Negredo.

But Stoke rallied after the break and levelled when Xherdan Shaqiri’s direct free-kick found the net via the base of the right-hand post.

Boro fielded four debutants as they returned to the top-flight after a seven-year absence, and it was striker Negredo, who joined on a season-long loan from Valencia, who made an immediate impact.

Just 11 minutes had passed when the Spaniard opened his Boro account, outmuscling Philipp Wollscheid to bundle home from close range after Gaston Ramirez headed Albert Adomah’s cross back across the area.

Ramirez was the key figure in the first half as he added to his assist by striking the woodwork on two separate occasions and producing a crucial clearance from inside his own six-yard box as Stoke threatened midway through the opening period.

Ramirez fired against the base of the post in the 36th minute after driving into the area, and struck the stanchion of post and crossbar direct from a corner in first-half stoppage time, but perhaps his most notable contribution was the superb defensive header that prevented Mame Diouf from reaching Bojan’s cross in the Boro six-yard box.

The only negative from the home side’s point of view before the break was the 18th-minute hamstring injury that curtailed £12m signing Marten de Roon’s debut, with Adam Forshaw replacing the Dutchman at the heart of midfield.

Forshaw slotted in effectively despite his lack of top-flight experience, and while Marko Arnautovic went close shortly before the hour mark, Boro might well have extended their lead had Albert Adomah picked out either Negredo or Stewart Downing after he galloped clear down the right-hand side.

A second goal at that stage would have made the Teessiders hard to beat, but Stoke gradually gained control of midfield in the second half and levelled in the 68th minute.

Adam Clayton conceded a free-kick on the edge of the area, and while Victor Valdes got a hand to Shaqiri’s set-piece, he could only palm the ball against the inside of the post. Having moved fractionally in the wrong direction as Shaqiri shaped to shoot, Valdes might well feel he should have done better.

Ben Gibson headed Downing’s corner over the top as Boro attempted to regain their lead, but Stoke finished the stronger and the hosts were forced to hold on for a point in the closing stages.

Middlesbrough (4-2-3-1): Valdes; Nsue, Barragan, Gibson, Friend; Clayton, de Roon (Forshaw 22); Adomah, Ramirez (Nugent 87), Downing; Negredo.

Subs (not used): Konstantopoulos (gk), Baptiste, Fischer, Stuani, Rhodes.

Stoke (4-2-3-1): Given; Bardsley, Shawcross, Wollscheid, Pieters; Whelan, Imbula; Shaqiri, Bojan (Allen 78), Arnautovic; Diouf (Walters 68).

Subs (not used): Haugaard (gk), Muniesa, Adam, Cameron, Crouch.

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