FULHAM ........................................................................... 1 Boro just don’t know when the are beaten...and it’s great to watch

LATE DRAMA SHOWS CHARACTER YET AGAIN

IT was never likely to finish 0-0. It’s something that hasn’t happened at Craven Cottage in the league for 130 matches.

But nobody expected the late drama that was to unfold during a pulsating final four minutes.

Boro showed spirit at Aston Villa when playing for the best part of an hour with a man less. They did so again last weekend as they twice came from behind to eventually beat QPR.

This, however, was on another level. Fulham scored what looked set to be the winner on 86 minutes, Aboubakar Kamara rising highest to head past Darren Randolph.

And that meant Monk’s side had to pick themselves up against one of the best footballing sides in the Championship. They had to gamble, attack, leave nothing on the pitch. That’s exactly what happened, with Cyrus Christie sparking scenes of pure ecstasy in the away end with his equaliser two minutes later. It was another example of just how far Boro have come under Monk.

A team that were beaten into submission in the Premier League have come back re-energised, re-formed and reunited. In short, this Boro side don’t know when they are beaten. And it’s a joy to watch.

After his two-goal haul at Aston Villa in the Carabao Cup, Patrick Bamford was rewarded with a first league start since Nottingham Forest and lined up alongside Britt Assombalonga in an attack-minded 4-4-2 from the off .

With Bamford through the middle, that saw Lewis Baker moved to the right - and it was the on-loan Chelsea midfielder who had a couple of early efforts, the first after just 14 seconds as Boro looked to start quickly.

That didn’t test Fulham keeper David Button too much, but the second certainly did - Baker dropping into some space between the lines and rifling an effort that the Cottagers No 1 acrobatically turned over the crossbar.

It was an electric start and the pendulum swung from side to side, with both Fulham and Boro showing devastating pace in the final third. But as the half progressed, it was certainly the home side who looked more dangerous - with 17-year-old Ryan Sessegnon the danger man for Boro.

Fulham went into the game having last played out a goalless league draw in SW6 way back in August 2011. And it was easy to see why. Slavisa Jokanovic’s side moved the ball with such pace in the final third, but also played a dangerous game by leaving the back-door slightly ajar.

That allowed an entertaining first half which saw Boro’s midfield - marshalled by the excellent Jonny Howson - pushing high to press the hosts.

But too often the Cottagers found an escape route down their left-hand side, and an early booking for Cyrus Christie as he tried to stop the overlapping Sessegnon brought with it obvious complications.

For every Fulham attack thereafter came down that flank, and with Baker not known for his defensive capabilities, too often Sessegnon and Floyd Ayite managed to fashion an advantage and fizz menacing balls across the Boro box.

Garry Monk’s side stood up to the task, with some last-gasp defending from Fabio denying Rui Fonte in the middle, while goalkeeper Darren Randolph was called into action too - superbly saving from Oliver Norwood, Sessegnon and Ayite in quick succession.

Boro looked dangerous too - with Marvin Johnson coming within a whisker of his second goal for the club as he received the ball inside the area and shot low on the angle - but to Button’s relief the ball crept inches wide.

The second half began just as the first 45 minutes ended; a game that would slow down almost to a walking pace, before flying into a 100mph scrap within an instant.

And it was Boro full-back Christie who was motoring down the right flank as he got beyond Sessegnon and tumbled inside the area, but referee Oliver Langford waved away his protests in front of the packed away end.

Then straight up the other end Ben Gibson had keeper Randolph to thank, the centre-back’s undercooked back-pass allowing Boro summer target Sheyi Ojo to bear down on goal.

But it was excellent reactions from Boro’s No 1, who was off his line promptly to hack the ball clear just in time.

Unlike in the opening 45 minutes, the chances didn’t fall as easily to either side as the clock ticked beyond the hour mark - but it was Boro who created the standout opportunity.

Defending deep, Boro won the ball and then broke with pace and endeavour - four players darting over the half-way line - and it was Bamford who led the charge.

The 24-year-old found strike partner Assombalonga at the edge of the area, before retrieving it back and drilling a low effort into the side-netting. Small margins - as the striker held his head in his hands.

Small moments change games, and although Bamford didn’t find the net, that opportunity sparked a renaissance as Boro wrestled back the initiative.

And as the noise from the away end grew, so too did Boro in belief they could nick it.But an injury to Fabio halted Boro’s momentum, the leftback who suffered an injury on the same ground last season on his debut, again struck down by his west Lon