Full-time: Birmingham 1 Middlesbrough 1

IT wasn’t the win that Middlesbrough were looking for to open up some daylight at the top of the Championship table, but come the end of the season, last night’s battling 1-1 draw at Birmingham could come to be recognised as the point at which Aitor Karanka’s side took their most important step towards the top-flight.

Rocked by the dismissal of Dimi Konstantopoulos in the final two minutes of the first half, and reeling from Paul Caddis’ successful conversion of the resultant penalty, it would have been easy for the Teessiders to roll over in the second half.

At the very least they might have anticipated being on the receiving end of a barrage of pressure after the interval, but displaying the kind of character and composure that is demanded of promotion prospects, they dug deep to claim a point that could prove crucial in the final reckoning.

The Northern Echo:

Patrick Bamford’s 74th-minute equaliser was no more than they deserved for their second-half spirit, and while it restores Boro to the top of the table ahead of Saturday’s lunchtime kick-off with Leeds, the psychological importance of such a resilient display could be even more valuable.

Whatever is thrown at them in the remaining 15 games of the season, Boro’s players know they are capable of overcoming adversity. That trait could be crucial as the stakes continue to increase.

There was precious little fluidity in the Teessiders’ play last night, even before Konstantopoulos’ foul on Clayton Donaldson reduced them to ten men. Goalscoring opportunities were limited, passes repeatedly went astray. But when a reaction was required, it was immediately forthcoming, with Grant Leadbitter’s leadership qualities once again proving of critical importance.

The Northern Echo:

Driving here, there and everywhere after the interval, the Boro skipper was simply not going to be beaten. It was almost as if his team-mates felt compelled to follow his lead.

Initially, Leadbitter found himself featuring in a new-look midfield that also included Emilio Nsue and Adam Forshaw. The pair have been bit-part players for the majority of their time at Middlesbrough, but they almost combined to hand their side the ideal start.

The Northern Echo:

Just three minutes had elapsed when Forshaw set off on a rampaging run down the middle, but while his ball to release Nsue into the right-hand side of the area was well weighted, the shot that followed was a scuffed effort that was deflected narrowly wide.

Tactically, Karanka sprung a surprise, with Lee Tomlin pulled to the left flank as part of a 4-4-2 formation that is rarely utilised by the Spaniard. The switch enabled Bamford and Jelle Vossen to play alongside each other up front, but for the majority of their time together, they were unable to shake off the attention of Paul Robinson and Jonathan Spector.

The Northern Echo:

With Kenneth Omeruo comfortably on top of Donaldson at the other end, chances were few and far between for the opening 40 minutes. Konstantopoulos got down well to turn Andrew Shinnie’s early strike around the post and also kept out an effort from David Davis, but while highly-rated winger Demarai Gray caused pulses to race with the occasional burst down the touchline, Boro looked like reaching the break without their goal having been seriously threatened.

That all changed in the 43rd minute, however, as a moment of madness from Ben Gibson left the visitors with a mountain to climb.

The centre-half was far too casual as he prodded a tentative back-pass towards Konstantopoulos, and the loitering Donaldson did not need a second invitation to gallop into the box. He fell somewhat theatrically as he attempted to round the goalkeeper, but Konstantopoulos was committed to the challenge and referee David Coote could do nothing other than reach for a straight red card.

The Northern Echo:

Caddis rolled home the spot-kick, and from a position of relative security, Boro found themselves a goal and a man down. That the damage was completely self-inflicted only made it even harder to stomach.

The second half became a question of whether to gamble or go for damage limitation, and to their credit, the Teessiders opted to push forward in search of an equaliser even if it threatened to leave holes at the back.

Albert Adomah’s introduction shortly after the hour mark underlined their continued attacking intent, but while the substitute had the ball in the net in the 67th minute, his effort was ruled out for offside.

Boro had cause to be aggrieved again moments later when Robinson appeared to haul down Bamford in the area. Judging by his furious reaction to play being allowed to continue, the Boro striker definitely thought he had a case. Fortunately, he did not have to wait long to extract his revenge.

Space in the Birmingham penalty area had been at a premium all night, but Bamford created some via a slick one-two with Leadbitter, and made it count as he slipped a crisp low finish beyond Darren Randolph.

The Northern Echo:

The goal took Bamford into double figures in the Championship this season, and underlined why he is likely to be a pivotal figure in the final two-and-a-half months of the promotion race. Few other Championship strikers would have boasted the technique or composure required to convert such an opening.

Boro merited the equaliser on the strength of their second-half display, but it might have counted for nothing had Donaldson held his nerve in stoppage time. The striker met Caddis’ cross in the six-yard box, but his header sailed over the crossbar.