Chuba Akpom continued his superb scoring streak to earn a point for Middlesbrough against Bristol City – the very least the hosts deserved in Michael Carrick’s first game in charge at the Riverside.

Carrick will wonder how on earth he wasn’t celebrating a victory, such was the dominance of his side against Nigel Pearson’s Robins. But the new head coach will have seen plenty to be encouraged about as Boro created a string of chances in a one-sided affair.

Ahead of his Riverside dugout debut, Carrick talked about his excitement at experiencing the home “buzz” and the importance of building a strong connection with home supporters.

But he knows that bond is only built through positive performances, the type of which Boro delivered against the Robins, even if they did ultimately have to settle for a point.

Carrick wants to see his side play positive front-foot football, which was on display throughout as Boro enjoyed 71% of possession and had 23 shots on goal against City.

Fourteen of those efforts came in the opening period, and yet somehow found themselves behind at the break after Andreas Weimann slotted home at the end of a fast counter attack 10 minutes in.

Before and after that goal, Boro pinned the Robins back, creating a string of opportunities but denied by a combination of wayward finishing and an inspired showing from visiting keeper Max O’Leary.

Boro burst out of the blocks and created their first opening inside 60 seconds when Hayden Hackney fired over from inside the box. It was a sign of things to come as Boro pummelled City with one attack after another but just couldn’t force a breakthrough.

Riley McGree and Akpom both went close before the Robins opened the scoring against the run of play but Boro didn’t let that setback knock them off their stride, pinning City back with wave after wave of attacks. McGree could have had a hat-trick, Marcus Forss hit the base of the post and two penalty appeals were waved away on the stroke of half-time.

The message from Carrick at half-time was surely that the goal would come if Boro continued in their first half fashion, and it did just just three minutes into the second period, Akpom stroking home McGree’s cross to notch his third goal in as many games since the head coach’s appointment and deservedly get the hosts back on level terms.

The goal sparked a slight reaction from City, who now had to show some attacking intent, but other than Semenyo blazing over from close range just before the hour mark, the Robins hardly threatened.

It was Boro who were pushing for the winner, with Akpom a threat and McGree at the heart of all of the home side’s positive play.

Boro kept probing but couldn’t force a way through, a frustrating result but a performance packed with promise.