Late heartbreak for Middlesbrough in Stoke draw after dominant performance and referee controversy

It was late heartbreak for Middlesbrough at Stoke City as their wait for a first win of the season goes on after a 2-2 draw at the bet365 Stadium.

Boro absolutely dominated the game and will wonder how they aren't leaving Staffordshire with all three points. A controversial Stoke opener and a late equaliser are the reasons after Duncan Watmore and a Phil Jagielka goal appeared enough to have given them a come-from-behind win.

Instead, they have to settle for another point. Here is the game at a glance.

19 mins: Stoke 1-0, Brown - Totally against the run of play. Jones is clearly fouled on the right but nothing is given. Stoke break from there and Gayle slides across to Brown in the box as it was two on one in Stoke's favour with Bola struggling to get back and Brown has the simple finish.

38 mins: Boro 1-1, Watmore - Wonderful move. Mowatt with a great pass to an advancing McNair who flicks a header to Jones. He plays a one-two out wide with McGree before spotting Watmore's front-post run. Watmore with a lovely flick over Bursik to finish.

64 mins: Boro 2-1, Watmore - Great play as Boro work it from right to left with Giles eventually getting in, delivering a lovely low cross that ends in the back of the net. Watmore credited with it. Hard from replay to tell if it was his or an own goal. Either way it ended in the back of the net.

90+ mins: Stoke 2-2, Wright-Phillips - Boro fail to clear their lines, ball goes back in and Wright-Phillips is free in between Dijksteel and Jones to head home from close range.

Just 24 hours after former Boro captain Nigel Pearson expressed his considerations of completely quitting the game because of the poor standard of officiating in the modern game.

Referees don't have it easy,