A THIRD successive game without defeat but also a familiar sense of frustration for Middlesbrough, who will feel one point should have been three against Preston.

Not for the first time this season, Michael Carrick’s side weren’t able to make spells of dominance count and were stung.

They had more than twice as many shots as North End and 34 touches in the opposition box compared to the visitors’ 11 – but couldn’t add to Tommy Conway’s early opener and had to settle for a point after Mads Frokjaer-Jensen’s equaliser on the stroke of half-time.

Boro probed after the break and Emmanuel Latte Lath had a goal disallowed but the hosts ran out of ideas. It was in the first half that Boro should have won the game. They had more than enough chances to add to their advantage and could have been out of sight before the avoidable equaliser.

That Preston keeper Freddie Woodman was booked for time-wasting tells you that Paul Heckingbottom’s side were happy to settle for the point, their first draw of the season after one win and three defeats prior to their trip to the Riverside.

Carrick made three changes, handing a full debut to George Edmundson, giving Dan Barlaser the nod in midfield after Aidan Morris’ international break travels and recalling Emmanuel Latte Lath, who linked up well with Conway in the first half.

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Conway has looked like a player in a hurry from the minute he first pulled on the Boro shirt and he was it from the off in what was his first start at the Riverside.

After scoring a penalty late against Portsmouth, it looked like he might win one early against Preston when he latched on to an under-hit Jack Whatmough pass-back and beat Woodman to the loose-ball before hitting the deck. Referee Tom Nield was blinded and looked to his assistant, who wasn’t convinced – and rightly so. Replays appeared to show no contact.

Undeterred, Conway lifted himself and troubled Preston, darting around their box. And when he latched on to Luke Ayling’s through-ball and only had Woodman to beat, he never looked missing. The finish was crisp and confident.

The 22-year-old hit double figures in successive seasons at Bristol City and looks a wise bet to that again this term at Boro. And on current form, so does Matt Clarke!

The centre-half scored against Portsmouth and Cardiff and looked certain to make it three in three 10 minutes out from half-time but his close-range effort was somehow blocked by Brad Potts after Latte Lath had been denied.

After his early mistake and a yellow card, Whatmough’s nightmare first half almost got even worse. A Barlaser free-kick glanced off the head of Clarke, hit the Preston defender and flashed just over his own bar.

Preston had their moments, with former loanee Sam Greenwood flashing one ball across the face of goal, but Boro should really have been out of sight at half-time. Instead, they were level. And not for the first time this season, it was an avoidable goal. Boro conceded possession in their own half and then allowed Frokjaer-Jensen to roam free and pick his spot when he met Brad Potts’ cross from the right.

Latte Lath had the ball in the net early in the second half when he was on the end of a cross from Borges but the Brazilian had strayed offside and the flag went up.

Boro were probing without troubling Woodman. They needed a spark and Carrick turned to his bench, introducing Doak for his debut.

But in pushing for a winner, they had to be wary not to lose it. Preston threatened on the break and substitute Duane Holmes should have done better when played in by Greenwood.

Three North End defenders were living dangerously on yellow cards and Jordan Storey was lucky not to see red when he fouled Conway on the edge of the box. Soon after, Woodman added his name to what come the end of the season will be a long list of goalkeepers booked for time-wasting at the Riverside.

Carrick introduced Delano Burgzorg, Micah Hamilton and Aidan Morris but Boro couldn’t force a winner.