Middlesbrough 1-1 Sunderland: Nazariy Rusyn saves the point for the Black Cats

Nazariy Rusyn has scored two goals in his first season at Sunderland

Sunderland fought back in an error-filled but enthralling tees-wear derby at the Riverside to earn a draw against Middlesbrough, another contender for Championship promotion.

It took more than an hour for the breakthrough to come when Marcus Forss parried a deflected shot and smashed the dropped ball wildly past Anthony Patterson to give Boro the lead.

But the Wearsiders equalized when Jack Clarke's excellent pass from the left found Nazariy Rusyn in space and with a defender in his sights, he half-volleyed a ball past Tom Glover at the near post.

It was a thrilling end-to-end final, but neither team could produce a winner.

Whether or not this rivalry truly counts as a derby in the eyes of fans, there was palpable animosity and fierce competition off the pitch, making this a frank, imperfect clash between two teams with the ambition to build on previous successes to return.

Boro were eyeing a first double against their A19 opponents since 2017 but had to settle for just one point, a draw that leaves them four points off the top six and still in 12th place. However, they still have a game in hand on most of the teams above them.

Likewise, Sunderland could have moved into the play-off places with a win over Hull City, although the character shown in a difficult environment may have been a welcome aspect for coach Michael Beale.

The Black Cats might have given themselves a platform to take more than just a point when Clarke weaved across goal in the first half and passed to Abdoullah Ba, whose tame shot from close range was blocked on the line by Rav van den Berg became.

Despite this golden chance, the home team looked more dynamic, especially after the break.

Under Michael Carrick, Boro have found a formula for entertaining football and it showed when January arrival Finn Azaz impressed. His movement and vision in collaboration with Hayden Hackney kept opening up Sunderland.

Sam Greenwood kept falling behind but failed to beat Patterson, while Azaz wasted a chance when the Sunderland goalkeeper could only parry it.

Luke Ayling fired a shot wide of the goal and Forss was also inches away from another goal when Patterson's free throw deflected off him and off a post.

Both teams still have time to ensure promotion at the end of the season with over a third of the season remaining, just like last season.

Middlesbrough manager Michael Carrick told ` Radio Tees:

“The boys are disappointed and feel like we could and should have gotten a lot more out of the game.”

“We controlled the game and limited them to almost nothing in the second half.”

“It’s not easy to stop a good Sunderland team from doing anything in the game.”

“We create opportunities, but we have to get better at taking advantage of them at the right time.”

Sunderland boss Michael Beale told ` Radio Newcastle:

“I thought we were really good in the first half in terms of our attacking play and again we missed a big chance in an away game and you wonder if that's going to hurt you.”

“In the first half we got into some really interesting areas without executing. I was happy with the first half, both teams competed against each other.”

“We didn’t start the second half well, we conceded a goal in the second phase of a set piece and we can’t keep conceding goals from set pieces.”

“Our reaction to that was really good, we scored and in the last ten minutes I felt like we should score a winner. Balls whiz over the goal and we are not there to get the last touch of the ball. I think that's an important point.” “

Lineups

Middlesbrough

formation 4-2-3-1

23Glover

12Ayling6roast meat3van den Berg27Angel

16Howson4Barlaser

21Fors7Hackney20Say

29Greenwood

• 23Glover
• 12AylingBooked for 79 minutes
• 6roast meat
• 3van den Berg
• 27AngelBooked for 34 minutesReplaced byThomasat 84'protocol
• 16Howson
• 4BarlaserReplaced byO'Brienat 77'protocol
• 21ForsReplaced bySilveraat 77'protocol
• 7Hackney
• 20Say
• 29GreenwoodBooked for 75 minutesReplaced byCoburnat 77'protocol

Substitute

• 5Clarke
• 14Gilbert
• 15Dykesteel
• 17McNair
• 18Silvera
• 19Coburn
• 28O'Brien
• 32Jones
• 33Thomas

Sunderland

formation 4-1-4-1

1Patterson

32Hume5Ballard13O'Nien33Pour

24Neil

17Ba39Ekah7Bellingham20Clarke

11Burstow

• 1Patterson
• 32HumeBooked at 14 minutes
• 5BallardReplaced byFrom thereat 90+8'protocol
• 13O'Nien
• 33Pour
• 24Neil
• 17BaBooked for 34 minutesReplaced byRobertsat 67'protocol
• 39EkahBooked for 90 minutes
• 7Bellingham
• 20Clarke
• 11BurstowReplaced byRussianat 67'protocol

Substitute

• 6Pembele
• 9Silva Semedo
• 10Roberts
• 14Mundle
• 15Russian
• 22Aouchiche
• 23From there
• 30bishop
• 48Kelly

Referee: Darren England

Number of visitors: 31,716

Live text

1. The game ends: Middlesbrough 1, Sunderland 1.

2. Second half ends, Middlesbrough 1, Sunderland 1.

3. Substitution Sunderland. Jenson Seelt replaces Dan Ballard due to injury.

4. Delay over. You are ready to move on.

5. Game delayed due to injury to Dan Ballard (Sunderland).

6. Foul by Josh Coburn (Middlesbrough).

7. Dan Ballard (Sunderland) wins a free kick in the defensive half.

8. Delay over. You are ready to move on.

9. Game delayed due to injury to Nazarii Rusyn (Sunderland).

10. Attempt failed. Josh Coburn (Middlesbrough)'s header from the center of the penalty area goes high and wide to the right. Assisted by Luke Ayling with a cross.

11. Attempt failed. Lewis O'Brien (Middlesbrough) tries with his left foot from a distance, but the ball just misses the left corner of the goal. Assisted by Luke Ayling from a set piece situation.

12. Pierre Ekwah (Sunderland) is shown the yellow card for a bad foul.

13. Sam Silvera (Middlesbrough) wins a free kick on the right wing.

14. Foul by Pierre Ekwah (Sunderland).

15. Offside, Sunderland. Jack Clarke is offside.

16. Corner, Sunderland. Goal conceded by Luke Thomas.

17. Foul by Jonny Howson (Middlesbrough).

18. Dan Neil (Sunderland) wins a free kick in the defensive half.

19. Attempt failed. Nazarii Rusyn (Sunderland) tries to head it from the center of the box, but the ball misses to the right. Assisted by Pierre Ekwah with a cross.

20. Foul by Sam Silvera (Middlesbrough).