THE running theme of Middlesbrough’s season is that the result has not been symptomatic of their performances. That was there for all to see in Staffordshire as a dominant Boro were stunned by Stoke City in the closing stages conceding a stoppage time equaliser having come from behind to lead in the game.

Much like the full 90 minutes, Boro controlled the opening stages of the game and showed their strength in wide areas with Isaiah Jones and Ryan Giles causing early problems in the game but the corresponding response from a blue shirt in the box wasn’t there. Chuba Akpom’s absence was felt after his brace at the weekend against Sheffield United.

Against the run of play, Boro were pegged back in controversial style. Isaiah Jones looked to have been fouled on the right hand side as Jordan Thompson slide in from behind but the referee waved play-on as Stoke broke into Boro’s half. With just Darragh Lenihan back in defence, former Boro target Dwight Gayle bided his time and put it on a plate for Jacob Brown who diverted the ball into the bottom right corner. Chris Wilder was straight in the ear of the fourth official whilst the travelling support gave the referee plenty of criticism. The third time this season Boro have conceded the first goal but this one felt unjust.

Boro’s dominance didn’t wane as their wing-backs continued to be their strongest outlet. Giles was threaded in behind again and his low delivery was flicked goalwards by McGree only for the effort to be blocked by goalkeeper Joe Bursik. Better from Boro but not quite the cutting edge.

The Potters then had the ball in the net from a Thompson cross as he looped the ball high into the air and Dwight Gayle and Zack Steffen both contested for the ball. However, the Boro keeper was flattened by the Newcastle loanee and Michael Salisbury wouldn’t make the same mistake this time as he blew for a foul.

Boro continued to make inroads into the Stoke half and their persistence paid off before the break. Jones bided his time to make the right delivery from the right but it was Duncan Watmore’s movement that gave him the option. After bending his run away from his marker, Jones supplied the goods and Watmore did the rest sweeping him into the bottom left corner. Fox in the box stuff from the 28-year-old as Boro found a killer instinct.

Michael O’Niell’s side had one last bite of the cherry as Ben Wilmott uncharacteristically charged out of defence, chopped back inside to escape McGree and let rip with his weaker foot. Darragh Lenihan stopped the ball with his head as it was flying into the top corner.

The half-time whistle blew and as you’d imagine, Chris Wilder waited for the officials down the tunnel. To be a fly on the wall in the officials room.

Boro started the second half like a house on fire. Jonny Howson built up a move with a playing a lovely one-two and a ball over the top to Paddy McNair. His cutback found McGree inside the box with space to get the shot away but he sliced his effort over the bar. Watmore was provided plenty of threat with his runs in behind whilst the wing-backs were pinning Stoke in their own half. Boro were pushing hard for a second goal and were denied brilliantly by Bursik as McGree’s defence splitting pass fed Marc Bola whose goalbound effort was tipped around the post.

The longer the game wore, the more pressure Boro would have felt but they didn’t have to wait much longer and it came through a slice of luck. Another well worked Boro move freed up Giles down the left. His low cross was intended for Watmore but his faint touch directed the ball onto the heel of veteran Phil Jagielka who diverted the ball into his own net. Watmore’s movement once again causing havoc but Boro finally had their lead.

With Boro ahead, they perhaps let their foot off the gas but Stoke weren’t posing too much of a threat. The feeling was that the away side would have to undo their own hard work to allow them back into the game.

From a late Potters attack in stoppage time, Boro failed to clear their lines which invited them in for last cross into the box. Substitute D’Magio Wright-Phillips was in the right place at the right time, much like his grandfather Ian would have been, between Jones and Dijksteel to stoop his header past Steffen to provide a sickening end to the game.

The question on the lips of the Boro fans walking away from the Bet 365 Stadium will be how did they not come away with all three points? Boro’s frustrating start to the season goes on with the luck seemingly deserting them in the opening stages of the campaign. The performances are there but they just need that elusive win.