Rhodes Rescues A Point As Boro Draw At MK Dons

MK Dons    1        Middlesbrough    1

                          Bowditch 9                                     Rhodes 90+4

Jordan Rhodes came off the bench to score a dramatic equaliser for his new club Middlesbrough, who moved top of the table despite a 1-1 draw away at MK Dons.

Dean Bowditch’s ninth minute opener appeared to have sealed all three points for the hosts, who moved three points clear of the relegation zone following this result.

Jordan Rhodes celebrates his first Boro goal
(Picture from The Sun)

After the match Dons manager Karl Robinson claimed his side should have had a penalty when Tomas Kalas brought down Josh Murphy inside the area but referee Andy Davies waved play on. 

Rhodes’s equaliser was his first goal for Boro since his deadline day move from Blackburn. This was only his second appearance for his new club, after he came off the bench against Blackburn on Saturday.

The draw moves Boro a point clear of second place Hull at the top of the table, though that is now four league games without a win for Aitor Karanka’s side.

The visitors started poorly and fell behind inside 10 minutes when Bowditch latched on to Kyle Mcfadzean’s forward pass, before squeezing the ball under Boro keeper Dimi Konstantopulos.

Boro responded but Cristhian Stuani’s effort was saved by the legs of David Martin, before Murphy’s penalty appeal was turned down at the other end.

After the break David Nugent passed up a glorious opportunity to draw the sides’ level, when the Boro striker dragged his effort wide with just the keeper to beat.

Full back Ritchie De Laet then had his shot blocked on the line, after Gaston Ramirez’s effort was saved by Martin. The Dons keeper also kept out Grant Leadbitter’s header minutes later.

Dons came close to doubling their lead when Murphy tried his luck from range but Konstantopulos tipped the ball over the bar.

Boro equalised in the fourth minute of stoppage time when De Laet’s cross from the left was met by a leaping header from Rhodes. The ball clipped off the head of Dons defender Joe Walsh before looping over Martin and into the net, as Boro escaped with a valuable point.