IF only this was what Middlesbrough could have served up throughout 2017. If they had, it’s safe to assume they wouldn’t be staring at relegation to the Championship.

There was fight, spirit, defensive strength and, something everyone has cried out for at the Riverside, goals. Frustratingly, for a passionate home crowd, there were two more than there needed to be and scored by Manchester City.

On two occasions Middlesbrough were rewarded for their endeavour and, at times, impressive play, with the lead. Both times Manchester City, desperate to avoid defeat themselves to stay ahead of rivals Manchester United in the battle for a Champions League spot, pegged them back, albeit with the help of referee Kevin Friend in the first instance.

Before even thinking about whether Mr Friend’s decision to award a second half penalty was correct, what matters is that Middlesbrough’s hard earned point has kept them alive in the battle to stay up – just.

But if Hull City defeat Sunderland at the KCOM Stadium on Saturday and Middlesbrough are unable to overcome leaders Chelsea on the Monday, it will be Championship football again at the Riverside come August.

Despite threatening to defeat Pep Guardiola’s side, Middlesbrough had to settle for a point which leaves them six shy of Hull with three matches remaining. Things would have been a lot more interesting had they held on for a second successive win.

The brilliantly effective Alvaro Negredo had put Middlesbrough ahead seven minutes before half-time after a clinical counter-attack, which gave everyone inside the Riverside a lift and the belief they could spring a huge surprise.

Then controversy. With 21 minutes remaining Sergio Aguero equalised from the spot when Mr Friend adjudged midfielder Marten de Roon had tripped Leroy Sane in the area.

Sane clearly made the most of the situation, although there was contact and de Roon didn’t get near to the ball, even if it could be argued the forward hit the Dutchman rather than the other way round. The angry reaction of the home players certainly suggested Friend got it wrong.

But Middlesbrough soon recovered and regained the advantage when Calum Chambers scored his first goal since arriving on loan from Arsenal last summer.

At that stage there was only 13 minutes remaining, so the belief was high, the resilience strong and the atmosphere galvanising, but City struck a blow without any help.

Middlesbrough went to sleep, a rarity during the 90 minutes, and from a quickly taken free-kick Sergio Aguero teased over a centre where Gabriel Jesus was on hand to nod in the leveller. Hearts sank, City went wild.

There was clearly greater confidence felt among the Middlesbrough players, both in a defensive and attacking sense, after the midweek triumph over North-East neighbours Sunderland.

While that was a first league victory in 16 matches, it had clearly put a spring in the steps of the same set of players – with Fabio da Silva replacing Daniel Ayala as the only change – and Manchester City soon found that out.

Guardiola’s men could easily have been in front within the first 70 seconds. Jesus, surprisingly paired up front with Sergio Aguero, was inches away from getting on the end of a low centre when his strike partner had worked his way to the byline.

But after that Guzan’s goal never came under much threat in the first half. The visitors, looking to climb away from Manchester United in the battle for fourth after their city rivals drew with Swansea, saw plenty of the ball during that period without creating much.

The presence of Sane and Raheem Sterling starting on the bench didn’t help their cause, while David Silva’s absence was pivotal too. However, there was still more than enough expensive attacking to threaten goal more.

Middlesbrough’s defence had done its job. George Friend was particularly solid down the left even before his interception led to the opener seven minutes before the break.

Before that opener Middlesbrough had a few other half chances too. Negredo had dragged an effect across the six yard box from an unmarked position when he was picked out by the vision of Fabio’s cross, albeit with the help of Ben Gibson’s flick.

There was also an effort that shaved the side netting from de Roon too, and the Dutchman had emerged as a key player for the hosts. He has grown into his role since scoring the late equaliser at the Etihad this season, and was effective again here.

After that effort of his own, he had a crucial part to play in Middlesbrough securing the lead. When Friend intercepted a pass destined for the dangerous feet of Aguero on the edge of the Middlesbrough box, the left-back quickly turned defence into attack by feeding de Roon.

The £12m buy from Atalanta opened up his legs to reach half way before rolling Stewart Downing in down the left.

Downing had wasted a couple of earlier deliveries into the area from a similar position, so this time he kept his centre low and it proved perfect for Negredo to turn first time in off Willy Caballero’s right hand post to earn Middlesbrough the lead.

Negredo quickly had another effort a yard wide of the opposite post and that sparked an angry reaction from Guardiola, who was clearly frustrated with the way his team had not put Middlesbrough under enough pressure in the opening period.

Manchester City are far more dangerous proposition with Sterling and Sane in the side and, clearly frustrated with how things had developed, Guardiola brought them both on for the majority of the second half after scrapping the three-man defence system.

Suddenly, even if Caballero had to hold a low Adam Clayton strike, Manchester City had more about them going forward and the onus was on how Middlesbrough’s defensive strengths would hold up.

And they got the break they needed with 21 minutes remaining when the referee adjudged it was a penalty when Sane went to ground. Aguero sent the keeper the wrong way to convert, after plenty protests because de Roon felt Sane went looking for it.

Middlesbrough hadn’t finished either. With the home crowd and players incensed, substitute Adama Traore earned a free-kick. Downing curled goalwards and Caballero only parried.

That led to a bit of football pinball in the Middlesbrough box, where eventually Negredo’s backheel fell kindly for Chambers to lift over Caballero and restore the home side’s advantage.

There was a sense then that Middlesbrough could hold on, but then the defensive lapse with five minutes to go proved crucial. Jesus climbed pretty much unmarked in the area to level – and leave Teesside wondering what might have been.