Middlesbrough 1 Peterborough United 1

Jan 1 2012 Sunday Sun

A PARTY-POOPING last-gasp sucker punch spoiled Boro’s New Year celebrations as it denied them a share of the summit.

Boro were poised to move level with Southampton at the top of the Championship until a Peterborough goal three minutes from time left them deflated.

Boro battered Posh for long spells, had 21 shots and hit the woodwork twice as they battled to take advantage of slips by title rivals Saints and West Ham only to get caught cold.

But despite the frustrating finish the Teessiders still have much to celebrate.

A year ago Boro were locked in a relegation battle at the foot of the championship.

Now, despite slashing the squad size and wage bill, Boro are making a serious tilt at the automatic promotion spots after 12 months of marked improvement under Tony Mowbray.

They kicked off chasing a fifth-successive win and showed first on three minutes as Ogbeche put a looping header over from a Faris Haroun cross.

Then on six minutes a loose ball fell to Nicky Bailey and he sent a 30-yard speculative effort dipping just outside the post.

And in the eighth minute Julio Arca sent Joe Bennett down the left but his ball into the box was turned behind for a corner which was scrambled clear.

Peterborough made their first two tentative probes in the 10th minute, but first Bailey then Haroun tidied up.

Boro were back on the attack when Arca played a quick ball to the edge of the box for McDonald and when his shot on the turn was charged down the rebound fell for Robson 20 yards out, but his scooped shot dipped over.

Another series of cautious Peterborough probes were snuffed out and Boro continued to pile on the pressure and pin the visitors back in their own box.

They went close on 19 minutes when Ogbeche, on the right, cut past his marker and into the box to drill in a low shot that Lewis got down to save. And they should have taken the lead on 20 minutes when Hoyte drilled a low ball through a crowd of playerse towards McDonald at the far post, but somehow the ball squirmed through the unmarked Aussie striker’s legs.

On 25 minutes Bennett weaved in from the left to get into the box then Haroun touched it back for Robson to drill over. Then a half-cleared Robson cross was nodded back into the box by Haroun only for the stretching McDonald to flick over.