Grant Leadbitter scored a stoppage-time penalty as Middlesbrough claimed a 1-0 victory over Queens Park Rangers at the Riverside Stadium this evening.
In a first half with very few clear chances, QPR could have made the perfect start had Matt Phillips, who started in attack due to Charlie Austin's calf injury, not struck a tame effort straight at Dimi Konstantopoulos.
After struggling to get on the ball early on, Middlesbrough created a great chance to break the deadlock when Albert Adomah created space for a cross which David Nugent could only hit against the post.
As the attacks continued to struggle heading into the break, Diego Fabbrini was given the space to unleash a long-range strike, but he could only drag the shot wide.
The pace of the game was quicker in the second half, but a lack of a clinical edge halted QPR once again as Leroy Fer shot straight at Konstantopoulos after good work from Phillips, before the Boro goalkeeper showed good reflexes to keep out Alejandro Faurlin.
Much like their opponents, Boro struggled to create chances at the opposite end, and Stewart Downing wasted a good opening by hitting a low strike which Robert Green collected with ease.
A stalemate looked inevitable until the drama arrived in stoppage time when Fer stretched out an arm to block Grant Leadbitter's overhead kick, which gifted the hosts a penalty.
Leadbitter accepted the responsibility from 12 yards and fired home the spot kick to move Boro just a point behind Hull City and Brighton & Hove Albion.
Callum Mulvihill
