Rob Edwards lauds Middlesbrough ‘belief’ after dramatic draw at Leicester

Manager Rob Edwards hailed the ‘character’ of his Middlesbrough players for forcing the last-gasp equaliser which earned a point from a 1-1 draw at Leicester.

Defender Luke Ayling headed home in the sixth minute of added time to cancel out Jordan Ayew’s contentious opener from the penalty spot on the stroke of half-time.

Although the point was not enough to keep Middlesbrough in the top two, Edwards was pleased nonetheless.

“We showed character, spirit and belief, which you need in football – and quality,” he said. “We all agree, I don’t think it was anything less than we deserved from the game.

“But the circumstances at the end, when it felt doubtful, made it feel almost like a win, even though it wasn’t but I feel it should have been.

“We kept going and found a way to get something from it – the centre-half popping up and making it happen.”

Leicester had taken the lead with a controversial penalty award in first-half stoppage time, which was converted by Ayew.

Abdul Fatawu charged down an attempted clearance and the ball bounced to where Hayden Hackney was standing on the edge of the area.

The midfielder moved an arm to the ball and contact was certainly made but Boro insisted it had taken place outside the box.

“I haven’t seen it from another angle so if I’m moaning and I’m wrong I apologise but it looks like H’s foot is on the line and his arm is outside the box,” said Edwards.

“I don’t know what the right or the wrong call is at the moment but the lads are convinced.”

Leicester thought they had done enough to get over the line, especially when Middlesbrough defender Alfie Jones was shown a straight red in the 89th minute for cynically stopping substitute Stephy Mavididi from being sent clear.

But they could not take advantage and Ayling headed home from Callum Brittain’s cross.

The result ended a three-game losing streak for Leicester but their supporters are not happy with life under Marti Cifuentes, who joined as manager in the summer.

The Foxes, whose pre-season expectation was to push for promotion, are 13th following just one win since August.

“I want to praise the players – it is a very cruel way to finish the game,” Cifuentes said. “I am like everyone else, very frustrated. It is very tough but that’s football. We need to carry on.

“In terms of attitude, character, passion and commitment, it was excellent but unfortunately in the last minutes we should have done better.

“Football is a lot about feelings and perhaps in another situation playing against 10 men I’m sure we could have managed in a different way but I am a big believer that if we continue in this way we can get a lot of points in this league.

“I said to the players it was very tough not to get the three points, you need this kind of work ethic and commitment and it was very clear on the pitch.

“My frustration comes because we were so close. There will be time after tonight to analyse more.”