Grant Leadbitter converted from the spot three minutes into added time to rescue Middlesbrough a 1-0 win over Queens Park Rangers.
The telling moment in an otherwise bland contest came at the death, when Daniel Ayala's overhead kick was handled on the line by Leroy Fer.
QPR looked good value for a point up until that stage, but Leadbitter coolly dispatched to make it five away defeats on the spin for the visitors.
Relive Sports Mole's live text coverage below.
Hello and welcome to Sports Mole's live text coverage of the Championship clash between Middlesbrough and Queens Park Rangers at the Riverside. The hosts can climb one place into third with a win here this evening, while QPR - still under the guidance of interim boss Neil Warnock - are currently languishing in the bottom half.
Warnock may be in charge of Rangers for the time being, but he will be absent in the North East tonight due to "personal reasons". That means Kevin Blackwell stepping up to overlook things, as the visiting side aim to continue their impressive recent record against their opponents.
So after a two-week break we are less than 30 minutes away from the return of Championship action, and this is a real intriguing fixture to get us back up and running. There is some interesting team news to bring you from the Riverside, so let's get straight to it.
TEAM NEWS!
MIDDLESBROUGH XI: Konstantopoulos; Nsue, Ayala, Gibson, Friend; Adomah, Leadbitter, Clayton, Downing, Fabbrini; Nugent
QUEENS PARK RANGERS XI: Green; Perch, Onuoha, Hall, Konchesky; Henry, Sandro; Faurlin, Yun, Fer; Phillips
Starting with the visiting side, then, and they will be without leading marksman Charlie Austin this evening. The Premier League-linked forward is out with a calf injury, meaning that Matty Phillips will likely be fielded furthest forward. There is also a place in attack for Leroy Fer, who is currently making the most of the change in management.
QPR have made two changes in all, with Junior Hoilett being left out due to his exploits with Canada during the international break. Massimo Luongo has been jet-setting with Australia, too, so he will have to settle for a place among the substitutes once more.
In terms of the home side, Aitor Karanka has made three alterations to his side. Two of those changes have been enforced, with Tomas Kalas and Fernando Amorebieta both missing out through injury. There is still plenty of strength in the Boro backline, though, as Emilio Nsue and Ben Gibson fill in.
There had been a big question mark hanging over Christian Stuani coming into this one but, while he does not make the starting lineup, he has been named among the back-ups. Stuart Downing is fit and firing, meanwhile, aiming to continue from where he left off prior to the break with 33 chances created so far this term.
BENCH WATCH!
MIDDLESBROUGH SUBS: Kike, De Pena, Mejias, Stephens, Stuani, Zuculini, Woodgate
QUEENS PARK RANGERS SUBS: Smithies, Angella, Luongo, Petrasso, Tozser, Blackwood, Emmanuel-Thomas
Plenty of attacking options for Boro to choose from, then, not least Kike and a not-quite-fit Stuani, while the visitors may look to utilise the power of Jay Emmanuel-Thomas should they be chasing a goal in Austin's absence. Luongo also forms part of the matchday squad following his recent international exploits.
No place for Charlie Austin in the Queens Park Rangers squad this evening, with a minor ankle injury keeping him out. The visitors make two changes in all, while Middlesbrough have made three alterations to their starting lineup.
Well QPR, under the guidance of Kevin Blackwell this evening, have endured a somewhat difficult campaign so far. Rather than chasing a playoff spot, they find themselves simply looking to keep within touching distance of the top half. It has now been two weeks since Chris Ramsey was sacked, but still the search for a new manager goes on.
Interim boss Neil Warnock recently claimed that he expects a new man to be in place within the next couple of weeks, with Jimmy Floyd Hasselbaink the current favourite to take charge. The Dutchman's current club Burton Albion rejected suggestions that an approach has been made - officially, at least - but that is one to keep an eye on over the coming days.
PREVIOUS MEETINGS! QPR have won the last four meetings between these two sides, scoring two or more goals in each of those games. Boro had previously won three home games in succession against the Rs, but it is now two losses on the bounce.
QPR head into this game on the back of a poor away run, having lost four in a row on their travels. Their overall defensive record is rather poor, too, with just one clean sheet in their last 15 outings. Two wins in 11 games has left them closer to the relegation zone than the playoffs, meanwhile, as they come up against a Boro side boasting the third-best home record in the division.
DID YOU KNOW? No side has dropped more points from winning positions (10) than QPR this season, while on the flipside no team has picked up more (7) from losing positions in the Championship. Basically, do not read too much into the first goal this evening.
The teams are now out on the field and we are just moments away from kickoff. Boro have won five and drawn one of their last six games here, so this could be a tough night for Rangers.
KICKOFF! Following a well-observed minute's silence at the Riverside, we are now under officially back underway in the Championship. Fingers crossed we have an entertaining contest in the North East!
QPR seeing a fair bit of the ball in the opening stages of this match, looking to get Phillips involved in his unorthodox striking role. Boro just happy to sit off for the time being and ride the early wave of pressure.
SHOT! Some nice intricate play from the Rs culminates in Phillips and Fer linking up on the edge of the box, with the latter getting a weak effort in on goal which Konstantopoulos easily collected right down the middle. Good start from the visitors.
Boro knocking the ball around well now, just looking to grow into the game following a somewhat slow start. Karanka experienced his joint-heaviest defeat as manager of the club last time out, remember, so perhaps this is just a minor hangover from that.
Not a great deal to shout about at the moment, as a long hopeful punt up field evades Nugent and runs through to Green. The tempo is not quite there for the home side so far, which perhaps explains the very subdued atmosphere. Kevin Blackwell will be the happier of the two managers.
Another very sloppy pass, this time from Ayala, is not helping Boro's cause. A strange start to the game, with just that early weak Fer effort to show for attempts up both ends so far.
The Smoggies need a win tonight if they are to close the gap on the current top two, but there is no sign of a breakthrough at the moment. Maybe the two-week hiatus is having a negative effect on the players, who are yet to find their rhythm whatsoever.
Superb defending from Nedum Onuoha! Boro finally come to life as a fine pass over the tap falls into the path of Nugent, but before he could connect with the ball on the half volley the QPR defender was able to wrap his foot around it and clear away.
Nugent is looking lively, making a few smart runs off the ball. If not for Onuoha's challenge a few minutes ago then you would have fancied him to smash that chance home from just six yards out. The Hoops having to do a lot of defending now.
Some over-elaborate play sees Boro's latest attacking move come to an abrupt end. The Smoggies have looked much better over the past five minutes or so, but they have still yet to test Green between the opposition sticks.
OFF THE POST! The hosts really knocking on the door now after waking from their slumber. Some decent play once more, this time coming down the right as Adomah crossed for Nugent, yet the prolific forward could only divert the ball onto the post when opening up his body. Probably should have been scoring from there, just four yards out.
Well bar their promising spell in the opening few minutes, QPR have done nothing in an attacking sense this evening. Boro well on top, hitting the post through Nugent and looking far more of an all-round threat over the past 10 minutes.
The Hoops just need to relieve the pressure somehow, having had to do a lot of sitting back so far. It is certainly not easy for them with Austin absent this evening, meaning Phillips has to double up as a forward and a creative influence in the hole.
SHOT! Sandro takes on the shot from around 35 yards out, allowing Dimi to easily collect the ball down the middle once more. Both of the Hoops' shots have lacked any real conviction so far.
Still goalless at the Riverside Stadium with around 30 minutes on the clock
QPR still remaining compact at the back, not allowing Nugent to get in behind the defence. On the one occasion that the Boro striker did look to be in, Onuoha got across well to cover. The Smoggies the more threatening side, but the visitors are putting together some decent one-touch passing moves when they do get on the ball in attack.
Nsue takes a fine diagonal pass into his path down the right, before looking to swing one in for Nugent. It is headed behind for a corner, as QPR once more live a little dangerously at the back once those balls come into the box. Konchesky perhaps the weak link at the moment.
The atmosphere remains very flat as we enter the final 10 minutes of the first half. QPR just looking to hold out until the break, with an eye on snatching a goal on the counter if possible.
Frustration among home supporters now, who want the tempo to be lifted in order to break down this QPR defence. Karanka may look to change things around a little at the interval should the game remain as flat as is is right now.
YELLOW CARD! Some good work by Fer to turn two men and charge towards the box forces Leadbitter into making a challenge. QPR now have a free kick in a good position, while that caution will rule the Boro midfielder out of his side's next outing.
Faurlin whips the ball in, perhaps more in hope of finding the back of the net himself than picking out a teammate, but in the end Dimi simply beats it away. Promising spell from QPR, who will look to end the half on the same note that they begun it.
Grant Hall defends well to deny Nugent the chance of latching on to a cross from the left. A more open feel to the contest all of a sudden, but it looks as though we will head into the break all square.
Downing swings one in right across the face of goal. That cross was crying out for a touch from a Boro player, but there was nobody around to tap it home. The Smoggies will have one more chance to get the ball into the box after Sandro committed a silly foul 40 yards from goal.
QPR defend the initial free kick well, while also denying Boro from a corner kick. The Rs build on that and win themselves their first corner of the contest up the other end, which Nsue emphatically heads away.
SHOT! Fabbrini is not closed down by Sandro quickly enough, so he opts to take on the shot from range. It flashed well wide in the end, but there was certainly no harm in taking the effort on.
HALF TIME: MIDDLESBROUGH 0-0 QUEENS PARK RANGERS
It remains goalless at the Riverside, then, following a first half of football lacking any real entertainment. Boro had the best chance of the opening 45 minutes through David Nugent, but he could only turn Albert Adomah's cross onto the post from close range.
Fer and Sandro had a couple of tame efforts on goal for the visitors, before Faurlin's whipped-in free kick forced Dimi into making the third save of the contest. Rob Green has had nothing to keep out up the other end, meanwhile, with the Smoggies unable to truly break down their opponents.
Other than that we have not seen a great deal in the attacking third up either end. Kevin Blackwell, standing in for interim boss Neil Warnock this evening, will be just about the happier of the two managers on the basis of the opening 45 minutes, while Aitor Karanka may look to change things around at the break.
Here is a look at both benches should Karanka, or indeed Blackwell, look to make an alteration or two. Plenty of attacking options for Boro, who have Kike and Stuani among their back-ups. Emmanuel-Thomas arguably provides the Hoops' biggest threat, meanwhile.
BENCH WATCH!
MIDDLESBROUGH SUBS: Kike, De Pena, Mejias, Stephens, Stuani, Zuculini, Woodgate
QUEENS PARK RANGERS SUBS: Smithies, Angella, Luongo, Petrasso, Tozser, Blackwood, Emmanuel-Thomas
Will Karanka be tempted into making a half-time change? We're about to find out as the two sets of players re-emerge for the second 45 minutes
RESTART! QPR get proceedings back underway in the North East. No changes at the break, but Blackwell had a real in-depth chat with Emmanuel-Thomas moments before kickoff so we may be seeing the former Arsenal product shortly.
Half a chance for QPR at the start of this second half. Fer did well to instigate the move, passing the ball to Faurlin who sprayed it to Yun out wide. Phillips could not bundle the resulting cross in from close range, but you get the feeling that it would have been 1-0 to the Hoops had Austin been on the field.
YELLOW CARD! Faurlin is shown a yellow for his cynical challenge, as Boro's latest attempt on goal is turned aside. Open start to the second half at the Riverside.
SHOT! Phillips seemingly has the ball glued to his feet as he charges through on goal. Boro's defenders just can't get a a touch, with the ball falling to Fer in a central position inside the box. The Dutchman got the ball stuck under his feet, though, and yet again it was a tame effort for Dimi to deal with.
SHOT! It's another attempt on goal from the Rs, which this time asks a little more of Dimi at his near post. The visitors are the side on top, and when the ball was cut back to Faurlin just inside the box the midfielder had only one thing on his mind. Decent stop down low by the Boro stopper.
Nugent constantly trying to get in behind the back of QPR's defence, but at the moment it is just not working. Still not a single save for Green to make, while Dimi has had to keep out four attempts on goal. Phillips has just miscued his volleyed attempt when left unmarked as Boro continue to struggle.
Leadbitter is left to take on the free kick from 30 yards out, but his attempt was struck well over the bar. QPR will be delighted by how this second half is shaping up - now is the time to pounce up the other end.
So an hour played at the Riverside but still no changes made. I'm particularly surprised to see Karanka not change things around, but he will no doubt remain confident that the deadlock can be broken in his side's favour over these next 30 minutes or so.
SHOT! Plenty of power in Friend's strike from distance, which doesn't end too far from Green's goal. Better from Boro, yet they are struggling to create any clear-cut openings.
MIDDLESBROUGH SUB! Finally the first change arrives; Christian Stuani replacing Fabbrini for these final 25 minutes or so. Boro fail to make the most of another corner kick, as QPR continue to stand strong at the back.
CLOSE! The attempts at goal are certainly racking up now, but Green once more had this one covered. Downing was the latest to try his luck from range - far more needed. QPR have lost their attacking impetus, yet they will be happy with a point no doubt.
Christian Stuani has been introduced for a Boro side who have struggled to create any real clear-cut chance thus far. A little over 20 minutes remaining for that to change at the Riverside.
It will be a real blow to QPR if they were to concede in these next 20 minutes but they appear to have now settled for a point on the basis of the last 10 minutes or so. A point at this ground, which has become something of a fortress, would not be a bad result at all.
YELLOW CARD! Phillips is shown yellow for his challenge on Leadbitter. Boro supporters starting to feel a little anxious now, knowing that this will be two big points dropped should things remain the same.
YELLOW CARD! A couple of strong challenges going in now, but Boro are desperate to find some momentum. Onuoha dives in on Clayton to become the latest visiting player to see yellow.
Just a reminder - QPR have had five shots on target compared to Boro's zero on-goal attempts. The vast majority of those Hoops strikes have been rather weak, granted, though it is they who have just about edged things in an attacking sense.
SUBS! Tozser has replaced Faurlin in QPR's first sub, shoring up their midfield. Boro have turned to Kike in attack, meanwhile, with Adomah making way. Twelve minutes to go in the North East.
Things have been incredibly flat over these past 10 minutes, with no action of any note. QPR will of course be delighted with that, while Boro are desperately looking to gain some much-needed momentum - something they have lacked all evening.
QUEENS PARK RANGERS SUB! Downing's raised boot when going in on Perch gifts QPR a free kick in their own half. Sandro is now off and Emmanuel-Thomas is on in his place - a change of tactics will surely follow.
Home supporters are growing more and more frustrated as this one goes on. There is no sign of a goal, or even a shot on target at the very least. Phillips has now shifted into a wider position, as expected, with Emmanuel-Thomas filling in up top.
Four minutes left to play and still - still! - Boro are unable to put together any real attacking moves. So incredibly frustrating for their supporters, who must now be consigned to seeing this one end all square.
Green is caught cold when rushing out to collect a cross, but luckily for him Boro couldn't work the ball towards goal. Clayton was the player who fizzed it in, and that really could have ended much worse for the experienced stopper.
Five minutes to be added on at the end of this contest, meaning potentially one last chance for Boro - or QPR - to put together one last telling move. The ball is currently being knocked around in the visitors' half.
RED CARD AND PENALTY TO MIDDLESBROUGH! Real drama here at the Riverside right at the death! Ayala's overhead kick is stopped on the line by Fer, who simply stretched out his arm to keep the ball out. Credit to the officials for spotting it - a chance for Boro to win this one from the spot
GOAL! MIDDLESBROUGH 1-0 QUEENS PARK RANGERS (GRANT LEADBITTER, PEN)
So, so cruel on QPR, who were good value for a point from this one. Boro simply have not looked like scoring for large parts, but you know what they say about good teams... Leadbitter made no mistake from the spot, slotting away coolly to surely win this match for the hosts.
QUEENS PARK RANGERS SUB! Petrasso is introduced for the final few moments in place of Yun. QPR will surely throw all they have at Boro now.
FULL TIME: MIDDLESBROUGH 1-0 QUEENS PARK RANGERS
The full-time whistle blows, and it is a cruel blow for QPR who head back south without a single point to show for their efforts. The telling moment in an otherwise bland contest came at the death, when Daniel Ayala's overhead kick was handled on the line by Leroy Fer. Rangers looked good value for a point up until that stage, but Grant Leadbitter coolly converted to make it five away defeats on the spin for the visitors.
Middlesbrough move up a place into third as a result of the late victory, while QPR remain in the bottom half ahead of the remainder of the weekend's Championship fixtures.
That brings an end to Sports Mole's live text coverage, but be sure to join us tomorrow as we bring you updates from across the Premier League, Football League and all of Europe's other top leagues. See you then!
