MIDDLESBROUGH produced a much-improved display as they claimed a 2-2 draw with QPR at Loftus Road.

Britt Assombalonga’s brace cancelled out a strike from Nakhi Wells and an own goal from Jonny Howson – but what were the main debating points in West London?

BRITT IS BACK

Britt Assombalonga can be infuriating. The 26-year-old’s record confirms he is one of the most prolific strikers in the Football League, but on days like the previous weekend at Derby County, he can look disinterested and wasteful.

Nevertheless, if Boro are going to haul themselves out of trouble in the next few months, Assombalonga’s goals are almost certainly going to be crucial, so it was hugely positive to see him looking so hungry and clinical at Loftus Road.

His first goal owed much to the level of desire that saw him surge past Grant Hall to meet Jonny Howson’s cross, and his second oozed composure as he steadied himself before lifting as composed finish over Joe Lumley. Jonathan Woodgate has backed Assombalonga to the hilt this season – performances like Saturday’s prove why.

McNAIR IMPRESSES BACK IN MIDFIELD

The absence of George Friend and Ryan Shotton in recent weeks hasn’t just affected Middlesbrough in defence, it has also damaged the Teessiders’ midfield.

With the pair missing, Woodgate has been forced to play Paddy McNair as part of his back three, even though the Northern Irishman has been Boro’s most effective midfielder for most of the season. On Saturday, McNair was restored to a central-midfield role, and the Teessiders immediately looked more balanced.

“Paddy’s got that drive from midfield, and it’s important you’ve got that left sider on your left-hand side,” said Woodgate. “It brings more balance. You can bring the ball out better and play more passes – if you’ve got a right sider on that side, you’re limited to how many passes you can play. George also brings us that balance in defence.”

RANDOLPH IS READY FOR IRELAND

Darren Randolph’s thigh strain meant he had to sit out three matches, and as well as affecting Middlesbrough, the goalkeeper’s problems had sent a flutter of panic around Irish football.

Mick McCarthy’s Republic of Ireland side host Denmark next Monday in their final Euro 2020 qualifier, a game that will make or break their chances of gaining a guaranteed place at next summer’s finals.

Win, and Ireland will be at Euro 2020. Draw or lose, and they almost certainly be heading into the play-offs. Randolph is a crucial part of the Irish team, so McCarthy will have been delighted to see him hurling himself around his goalmouth making crucial saves at the weekend.

BORO’S FUNKY FREE-KICK ROUTINE

Midway through the second half, Lewis Wing found himself lining up a free-kick around 20 yards from goal. In response, QPR’s defenders lined up a six-man wall in their 18-yard box. So far, so routine.

What happened next was much more unusual though, with a line of five Middlesbrough players lining themselves up a couple of yards in front of the QPR wall, forming what was effectively a wall in front of a wall.

Wing’s shot whistled over the crossbar, but it was good to see the Teessiders trying to be so inventive from a set-piece. Whether it was Woodgate’s idea or something dreamed up by attacking coach Robbie Keane, it proved Boro’s staff are trying to come up with novel ideas to increase their side’s goalscoring threat.

WARBURTON LEAVES HUGILL ON THE BENCH

If anyone was going into Saturday’s game with a point to prove, it was surely Jordan Hugill. The Teessider struggled during his loan spell with his hometown club last season, and returned to his parent side, West Ham United, with few Boro fans mourning his departure.

He has been in much better form with QPR season, scoring seven league goals, so it was a huge surprise to see Mark Warburton leaving him on the bench at the weekend and only introducing him with half-an-hour.

Hugill proved a menace in the closing stages, driving in a shot that was deflected narrowly wide and stealing ahead of Anfernee Dijksteel to head Todd Kane’s cross narrowly wide of the post.