Middlesbrough verdict: Neil Warnock's late interventions which helped his side earn a point against Cardiff City

In isolation a point against a side who had won six consecutive games is nothing to be sniffed at, yet Boro boss Neil Warnock will know the games are running out as his team linger on the cusp of the play-offs.

Paddy McNair’s late equaliser cancelled out Sean Morrison’s first-half opener at the Riverside.

We take a closer look at some of the main talking points:

Summary

Warnock made four changes to the side which were beaten by Bristol City earlier in the week.

Grant Hall, Marcus Tavernier and Britt Assombalonga were recalled, while Nathanial Mendez-Laing came in to make his first Boro start.

Despite Cardiff’s impressive form, it was Boro who started the brighter and dominated possession.

Bluebirds playmaker Harry Wilson saw an early free-kick saved by Marcus Bettinelli, yet the best chances fell to the hosts as Assombalonga forced a save from Cardiff keeper Dillon Phillips and Duncan Watmore saw a goalbound shot blocked.

Yet for all their promising play, it was Cardiff who took the lead with their first long throw-in as Vaulks launched the ball into the box and Morrison headed home.

Warnock will have known his former side’s strengths and been raging inside when the Bluebirds defender wedged himself between Hall and McNair to head home.

From there, Boro were always chasing the game and, despite not conceding many chances in the second half, they rarely threatened the Cardiff goal.

That was until Aden Flint tried to clear the ball inside his own area, which was blocked by Tavernier and flicked on by the head of substitute Chuba Akpom.

McNair was alert at the back post to stab the ball home.

Tactics

With Cardiff playing a 3-5-1-2 system, Boro tried to nullify the Bluebirds’ threats with man-marking tactics.

McNair stepped into midfield to stick with Wilson, while Anfernee Dijksteel followed Josh Murphy, who was playing up front alongside towering frontman Kieffer Moore.

Marc Bola matched the runs of Cardiff’s right wing-back Perry Ng, while Mendez-Laing tried to pin back Joe Bennett on the opposite flank.

For the most part, it looked like Boro were operating with a back three of Dijksteel, Hall, Dael Fry, yet the system was flexible.

At times it was frustrating to watch as the hosts played into Cardiff’s hands by sending high crosses into the box from wide areas, which were comfortably headed away by the Bluebirds’ giant defensive trio of Morrison, Flint and Curtis Nelson.

The three centre-backs were also dominant when Boro keeper Bettinelli launched the ball forward with little success.

Yet Warnock substitutions paid off as Djed Spence and Kebano, who upped the tempo, created an overload on the right before Flint failed to clear and Boro drew level.

Akpom also came off the bench and claimed the assist for McNair.

Star man

Tavernier was full of energy on his return to the side, even if a few of his passes went astray.

The midfielder’s persistence for Boro’s equaliser was crucial when Boro were struggling to create chances.

What’s next?

Despite the late equaliser Boro have slipped five points adrift of the play-offs following Bournemouth’s win over Watford.

The Teessiders will be hoping to keep the pressure on when they face Coventry on Tuesday.

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