Middlesbrough promotion hopes dented by Birmingham draw
ByReuters
Published 29/04/2016 at 21:07 GMT
Middlesbrough's hopes of automatic promotion to the Premier League suffered a setback when they were held to a 2-2 draw at Birmingham City in a thrilling Championship clash on Friday.
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'Boro moved top of the table on 88 points from 45 games before Burnley and Brighton & Hove Albion, both on 87, host Queens Park Rangers and Derby County respectively on Monday.
'Boro came from behind to lead with goals from Jordan Rhodes and Gaston Ramirez but were pegged back by a superb David Davis strike before Grant Leadbitter hit the bar for the visitors.
They were also denied a goal when Spanish defender Daniel Ayala was ruled offside when he drove a low shot into the net after 69 minutes though replays showed he was clearly onside.
Middlesbrough, who lost to Norwich City in the playoff final last year, welcome Brighton on the last day of the season on May 7 when Burnley visit already-relegated Charlton Athletic.
A win for 'Boro over Brighton at the Riverside would see them promoted to the Premier League, which is estimated to be worth a minimum of 100 million pounds ($146.06 million).
Birmingham stunned 'Boro at St Andrews by taking the lead after 33 minutes through Stephen Gleeson's long-range drive that Dimitrios Konstantopoulos got a hand to but could not keep out.
Middlesbrough were gifted an equaliser five minutes before halftime when Rhodes bundled the ball over the line after keeper Adam Legzdins dropped it at his feet after a free kick.
Ramirez put 'Boro in front with a close-range header in the 57th after being set up by Rhodes, who had earlier hit the post after a free kick, with Ramirez blasting the rebound over.
Birmingham levelled through Davis 11 minutes later before Ayala thought he had put the visitors back in front only for the defender to be harshly flagged offside by the linesman.
'Boro have spent seven seasons in the second tier of English football after finishing 19th in the Premier League in 2009.
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