Middlesbrough 1 Millwall 1: Mowbray left frustrated despite Boro establishing new club landmark run

Middlesbrough set a new club record but boss Tony Mowbray was in no mood to celebrate after his stuttering side were held by lowly Millwall.

Boro looked to be cruising after taking the lead in the first half with a shot from Barry Robson but in the second half they let Millwall back into the game.

Some sloppy marking from a corner let the Lions level after the break with a disputed strike that both managers agreed was probably an own goal.

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The point took Boro to a landmark 11th game unbeaten since the start of the campaign, the best start since the club stepped up to the professional ranks in 1899.

But it was also a fourth successive draw and another missed chance to take pole position.

“Listen, records are nice but the important thing for us is to be up there in May,” said Mowbray.

“And yes we are still unbeaten and that’s a good thing but right now we all feel a little frustrated because that was a game that probably we should have won.

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“We dominated the first half and deserved to be in front but maybe at times you can be almost too comfortable and we didn’t speed up the passing and move them around enough and that let them back in. You can’t do that.

“Millwall work hard and are always a threat at set-plays and we were disappointed to let one in like that one because we had gone four games without conceding,” he added.

The goal was the first Boro had leaked in eight hours 38 minutes since a similarly frustrating 1-1 draw with Coventry.

“But we have to remain positive,” added Mowbray. “We haven’t lost, we are unbeaten in October and we are still up with the leaders.”

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Middlesbrough: Steele, McMahon, Bates, Rhys Williams, Bennett, Arca (Nimely 65), Robson, Thomson (Haroun 65), Bailey, Emnes, McDonald (Martin 84). Unused substitutes: Hoyte, McManus.

Millwall: Forde, Mkandawire, Robinson, Ward, Barron (Smith 90), Trotter, Abdou, Howard, Feeney, Agyemang (Simpson 46), Henderson. Unused substitutes: Mildenhall, Henry, N’Guessan.

Referee: R Madley (West Yorkshire).

Man of the match: Barry Robson.