JULIO Arca admits he was the most relieved player on the pitch after Stephen McManus' stoppage-time header earned Middlesbrough a dramatic 3-3 draw with Leicester City.

Arca passed up a golden opportunity to equalise when he failed to convert a 76th-minute penalty, directing a weak side-footed effort much too close to Foxes goalkeeper Chris Weale.

The Argentinian was preparing himself for a miserable Saturday night after the woodwork denied both Merouane Zemmama and Marvin Emnes, but his mood brightened considerably after McManus powered home Tony McMahon's corner to secure a valuable point.

"To be honest, it wasn't the best penalty," said Arca, who converted a spot-kick against Cardiff earlier this season, but is regarded as Boro's second-choice penalty taker behind the injured Leroy Lita. "I think it was probably a bit too close to the goalkeeper.

"It happens. I'm going to be disappointed about it for a while, but luckily Mick (McManus) saved my life by scoring with the header. He got the goal in the end, and that meant I could breathe a massive sigh of relief.

"When the goal went in, I made a point of jumping all over him because he saved my skin. If we had lost, I would have been miserable all weekend."

As it was, the result took Boro ten points clear of the relegation zone with eight games remaining. The gap will shrink to seven if Sheffield United claim a surprise victory at runaway leaders QPR tonight, but with the Teessiders visiting Bramall Lane on Saturday, Arca feels a win in South Yorkshire will effectively secure the club's Championship status.

"It was important to get something to keep us moving forward," he said. "We have another big game coming up next week against Sheffield United, who are struggling below us in the table, but everything is in our hands now, we don't have to worry about what anyone else is doing.

"We don't have to look backwards. I think we probably need a few more points to be safe, but hopefully if we win next week, that should be enough to guarantee our place in the Championship."

With Rhys Williams returning to the heart of midfield after a spell in central defence, Arca found himself shuffled to the right of the midfield four.

The South American admits it is not his most natural position, but also accepts that after almost a year out of the side, Williams' return has added some poise and authority to the central area.

"Rhys is a really neat and tidy player," he said. "He has been excellent as a centre-half, and he played well again here in midfield.

"He seems to be one of those players who could play in any position to be honest. He could probably play at either right-back or left-back as well if he had to. He can adapt quickly to any position and we need players like that in the squad."