Leicester City 2 Middlesbrough 2: Busy Beckford gets his just rewards to extend Boro’s winless league run

Beckford had done everything but score before popping up with his sixth goal in his last four matches with four minutes remaining.

It had looked like a rare Tom McMahon goal would give Middlesbrough victory when he struck in the 79th minute. Scott McDonald had earlier cancelled out David Nugent’s opener for Leicester to send the teams into half-time level.

The draw still saw Boro climb back into the play-off places.

The visitors were the first to threaten after five minutes with Barry Robson sending a shot narrowly wide from just outside the area. Two minutes later, Leicester took the lead when Nugent headed home at the far post from three yards out.

Boro equalised after 16 minutes. McMahon’s corner was flicked on at the front post by Seb Hines and McDonald applied the finish from a yard out.

Just before half-time, Jason Steele had to produce a fingertip save to thwart Beckford.

The striker threatened again on the hour when a mazy run into the box had to be halted by the alert Steele smothering the ball at his feet.

Beckford almost conjured something magical again midway through the second half but his hooked, left-foot volley from the left side struck the crossbar.

McMahon may have thought he had sealed Boro’s first league win since Boxing Day with a superbly-taken free-kick 11 minutes from time. But Beckford had other ideas and the lively striker got the goal he deserved in the 86th minute.

McMahon’s back-pass always lacked pace and Steele was forced out of his goal to try to clear, but his kick struck the on-rushing Beckford and bounced goalwards, enabling the Leicester striker to level things with a simple tap-in.