AFTER 82 frustrating minutes came a moment of class, the sort of which prompted Aston Villa's phonecalls this week.

Just when it appeared as though Middlesbrough were facing their most frustrating defeat since…well, the last game against Rotherham, Morgan Rogers split the defence with a stunning backheel and Marcus Forss hammered home, another example of the Finnish international’s brilliant finishing ability.

Rogers was always likely to be the story here on the back of Villa’s failed transfer attempts this week but the 21-year-old – who started – and his fellow forwards again looked set to be frustrated by the Championship’s bottom club, just as they were on Boxing Day.

Frustration turned to exasperation when Leam Richardson’s side got themselves in front with one of their two shots on target just before the hour mark. But Rogers and Forss rescued a point for Boro late on.

Forss had long been on the pitch, introduced early on after Isaiah Jones became Boro’s latest injury victim and in circumstances that angered Carrick and his coaching team. Jones pulled up with a hamstring problem after a needless shove from former Boro striker Jordan Hugill.

And the winger was sorely missed – as was a natural striker – for the most part as Boro probed but didn’t look like scoring. Only two of their 12 efforts were on target before Forss’ late intervention.

Defeat avoided but still for Boro a missed opportunity after last week’s impressive win at Millwall. The rock bottom Millers headed for the Riverside without an away win in their last 14 months and having kept only one clean sheet on the road all season. That victory over Boro was their only success in their last 15 attempts. Their approach at the Riverside – to stifle and frustrate – was inevitable.

It wasn’t Rotherham’s lack of attacking ambition that angered Boro’s coaching team early on but the off the ball incident that resulted in the latest injury concern for Carrick. Hugill had no hope of winning the ball when he blatantly and needlessly shoved Jones. As the winger struggled to stay on his feet he clutched his hamstring and failed in his attempt to continue after treatment. 

It was Hugill who had Rotherham’s sole shot in the first half, a curling effort wide of Tom Glover’s left post after the keeper had a pass intercepted. Other than that, it was Boro who pushed, probed and pulled the visiting defence this way and that in the hope of the breakthrough they couldn’t force when these sides met a month ago.

Boro had almost 75% of possession in the opening 45 minutes and seven attempts but only two on target – a fierce Greenwood drive that was fisted away by Johansson and a glancing Forss effort that the visiting keeper again kept out.

Johansson was sweeping as well as stopping. Deep in stoppage time he gambled and raced off his line to try and beat Morgan Rogers to a loose ball. He got there – just. Had his arrival been delayed by a fraction of a second, he’d have been in big trouble.

Rotherham defender Peter Kioso was fortunate not to be in trouble moments earlier. He appeared to drag Greenwood to the deck inside the box but the Boro penalty claims were waved away.

Earlier in the first half, Matt Clarke had twice gone close, rising high to meet Dan Barlaser corners and heading wide.

Boro frustration deepened after the break. The hosts couldn’t find any rhythm and it was Rotherham who broke the deadlock just before the hour mark. Hugill turned Barlaser and Clarke with ease before playing in Cafu, who kept his cool and found the bottom corner.

Matt Crooks was introduced against his former club as Boro chased a leveller but they struggled to turn territory into meaningful efforts on goal. It looked set to be the most frustrating afternoon until Boro found the moment of attacking quality they’d been waiting for eight minutes from time. Rogers split the defence with a clever backheel and Forss lashed home.

Boro thought they'd won it late on when Josh Coburn had the ball in the net but it was ruled out for offside.