Half-Time Report: Blackpool, Middlesbrough level at the break

Blackpool are level with Middlesbrough at half time in their Championship encounter despite their best efforts to break the deadlock.

The Tangerines tried to forge an early lead but Barry Ferguson's shot was straight at keeper Shay Given.

The hosts can be thankful for two last-ditch tackles from Craig Cathcart and Jack Robinson in the opening minutes as both Lukas Jutkiewicz and Albert Adomah both threatened in attack.

Angel Martinez perhaps provided the best chances of the first period when he twice managed to produce saves from Given as the opening 45 minutes finished goalless.

Paul Ince has struggled to put out a full first-team squad after the departure of five senior players this week.

Blackpool, who left Michael Chopra out of the squad to face Boro in a week when the former Cardiff forward was fined by the club for a derogatory tweet, called upon two youth-team players fresh from a game on Saturday morning.