Middlesbrough 1 Stoke 1: Alvaro Negredo nets on his Boro debut but Xherdan Shaqiri nicks a point for the Potters
Second half free-kick from the winger gives Hughes men a share of the spoils at a packed out Riverside
ALVARO NEGREDO netted on his debut for Middlesbrough but Xherdan Shaqiri nicks a point for Mark Hughes' Potters.
The former Manchester City man scored just after just 13 minutes as Aitor Karanka's side took the game to the visitors, roared on by a sell-0ut crowd.
Shaqiri equalised with Stoke's first direct free kick goal in the Premier League since October 2013.
Both teams had chances to win it but ultimately Boro will be happy to get themselves off the mark.
FACTS, STATS, GOALS & LOLS
With four keepers to choose from, Aitor Karanka went for Victor Valdes ahead of Dimi Konstantopoulos, who conceded only eight goals at home last season.
- Shay Given, once on loan at Middlesbrough who wanted to sign him permanently, received a late call-up for Stoke because of Jack Butland’s ankle injury.
- Valdes was among four new faces in the Boro line-up, joining Alvaro Negredo, Marten De Roon and Antonio Barragan after Karanka’s busy summer.
- Midfielder Joe Allen was Stoke’s big buy - £13m from Liverpool - but he started on the bench as manager Mark Hughes decided to ease him into action.
- The missing fans returned to the Riverside. The ground had been more than half-empty on occasions in the Championship, but it was packed for this Premier League opener.
- The first chant of the season from the home crowd was in praise of chairman Steve Gibson - how other club chiefs must envy his relationship with the fans.
- And Stoke’s followers gazed at the packed stadium before predictably chanting “where were you when you were shxx?”.
Gaston Ramirez started his season in style as created Middlesbrough’s first goal, twice hit the post and was booked - all in the opening 45 minutes.
- Given was an early victim of the refs’ tougher approach as he was shown the yellow card for a protest about a challenge by Ramirez. He soon shut up.
WHAT THEY SAID
Aitor Karanka said: “For the strikers, always it’s important to score, especially for Alvaro. I said he needed to recover his confidence.
"He won the Premier League with Manchester City and he can’t forget how to play. It’s an amazing signing for us. He has to keep working in the same way now.
"The Premier League is the place where this club belongs and this is the first step. It’s a season to learn, but we deserve to be here.”
Mark Hughes said: "Shaq does that in training, every single day so he was due one. It’s a big year for Shaq. He senses that.”
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