Morgan Whittaker's goal for Middlesbrough was his third of the season
Morgan Whittaker's second-half strike grabbed a point for managerless Middlesbrough at Oxford United as his side stay second in the Championship.
The former Plymouth Argyle winger stroked home 10 minutes after the break to cancel out Luke Harris' first goal for the U's.
Boro dominated possession but were unable to find a winner as they lost further ground on table-toppers Coventry City, who came from behind to beat West Bromwich Albion at lunchtime, yet move a point further clear of third-placed Stoke City.
Oxford's point means they move four points clear of Sheffield United in the relegation places ahead of Sunday's Steel City derby.
With Swede Kim Hellberg waiting in the wings to take over Middlesbrough following the departure of Rob Edwards to Wolves, interim boss Adi Viveash took charge of his second match following the 2-1 victory over Birmingham City before the international break.
And it was Boro who started the match the brighter when Delano Burgzorg, returning to the side, sent a cross over which was headed wide by Whittaker.
Full-back Callum Brittain then cut inside on his left foot but scuffed his effort from close range following a slip from an Oxford defender.
Despite conceding most of the ball, Oxford looked dangerous and just before he was withdrawn because of injury, captain Cameron Brannagan fired wide from outside the box.
The home side then opened the scoring when Jack Currie's pinpoint centre was swept home with his left foot by Fulham loanee Harris.
Luke Harris' first-half strike was his first goal for Oxford United
Seconds after the half-time interval, Brittain forced a good save from Oxford keeper Jamie Cumming, who extended himself to tip the ball away from the top corner.
Brittain then turned provided when his low ball into the box was neatly finished by Whittaker on the move with his left foot, beating Cumming at his near post.
Whittaker was a whisker away from turning the match on its head when his thunderous strike from 20 yards went wide.
In the final moments, Oxford substitute Filip Krastev had the opportunity to grab all three points but his effort was well gathered by Boro keeper Sol Brynn.
Rowett 'proud' of his side's effort
Oxford United boss Gary Rowett told BBC Radio Oxford:
"In some ways, I'm really proud of the team again, I'm proud of the effort, I'm proud of the way we've gone about the game.
"I thought the goal that we conceded was incredibly frustrating, the way they've played through us from a throw-in.
"We've allowed them to play through us rather than them doing anything amazing to get there and it's been a little bit of a hallmark of the moments where we need to be better.
"At the end, it kind of looked like neither team quite had enough to go and win the game.
"It's funny in the Championship, if you had said before the season we would be going toe-to-toe with a team like Middlesbrough, who are second in the league, and be disappointed that we haven't won the game, you would feel that would be a lofty statement to make but in reality that's where we are.
"It's another game where a point feels like you're frustrated."
Viveash 'disappointed' with Boro's draw at Oxford United
Middlesbrough interim boss Adi Viveash told BBC Tees:
"The reality is that certainly in attacking areas, we didn't have enough of the quality moments, we didn't have the final action, final pass, cross, finish.
"Some key moments went against us and in the Championship you need certain things to go your way, especially away from home.
"It was a great goal [by Whittaker] - unfortunately we had two or three more (opportunities) where we were in the same position and just missed the cross, one got pulled behind TC [Tommy Conway].
"Nineteen shots, three on target, that number needs to be higher if you're going to win a Championship game."
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