Boss fumes as spot-kick pushes Boro to brink

GABRIEL JESUS kept Manchester City on course for a top-four finish while shoving Middlesbrough a step closer the Premier League trapdoor.

But on a day Boro produced their best display of the season and led City twice, a burning sense of injustice gripped the home dressing room.

They were convinced they were robbed of a desperately-needed win by referee Kevin Friend’s decision to award the visitors a hotlydisputed 69th-minute penalty.

City sub Leroy Sane ran into Marten de Roon before diving theatrically but it was enough to convince Friend the Boro midfielder had fouled him.

The decision provoked fury in home ranks, made worse when Sergio Aguero converted the spot-kick to move into second place in City’s all-time list of goalscorers on 167.

His goal cancelled out Alvaro Negredo’s 38th-minute opener which gave Boro a richly-deserved half-time lead.

Boss Steve Agnew’s anguish at City’s penalty turned to joy when Calum Chambers opened his Boro account.

Chambers stabbed home from close range in the 77th minute after Willy Caballero kept out a Stewart Downing free-kick.

But just as Boro were scenting back-to-back wins in the top flight for the first time in nine years, they were caught out by a quickly-taken free-kick with Jesus heading home Aguero’s cross.

While Jesus’ fourth goal of the season keeps City ahead of Manchester United and Arsenal in the race for the Champions league, Boro could find themselves nine points adrift of safety with three matches left when they travel to leaders Chelsea next Monday.

The odds are stacked against them staying up but Agnew remained upbeat despite his frustration at City’s penalty.

“I thought the player went down very, very easily,” he said.

“And it looked like the referee didn’t have a clear view.

“When you give them, you’ve got to be 100 per cent certain. But that performance showed our determination and fighting spirit.

“Having played so well against one of the top teams in the country, the players will take a lot of confidence going into Chelsea.”

City boss Pep Guardiola refused to be drawn into a war of words about the game’s key moment and claimed City should have won, something they’ve only managed once in the league on Teesside in 40 years.

“We deserved to win,” said the Spaniard who confirmed Aguero will have tests today after picking up a late injury which City hope is just a dead leg.

“In the second half, we did absolutely everything and they only crossed our line twice.”

For much of the game, however, it felt as if the momentum was with a fired-up Boro side.

No-one epitomised their attacking intent more than Downing.

He was guilty of over-hitting some crosses but it was from one of his drives forward that the deadlock was broken.

George Friend broke up an attack and de Roon released Downing, who advanced deep into City territory before passing.

Friend touched the ball on to Negredo who slipped in the process of shooting with his left-foot swinger ricocheting off his right foot as the ball found the net via Caballero’s upright.

City might have gone ahead inside the first minute when Aguero’s cross flashed across the face of goal with Friend doing well to avoid bundling the ball into his own net.

But though Jesus missed a good chance before the break, City only fired once Raheem Sterling and Sane came on in the 50th minute and Guardiola abandoned a 3-4-1-2 system which rarely troubled Boro.

In contrast, the hosts carried a threat in the final third missing for much of a spartan campaign.

It has probably come too late to preserve top-flight status. ALVARO NEGREDO Beast of a display ALEIX GARCIA Pedestrian