Championship top scorer Will Lankshear came off the bench to rescue Middlesbrough from a first home defeat of the season and deny Cardiff City in a pulsating 2-2 draw.

Lankshear – who now has 11 for the season in all competitions – had been on the bench as Cardiff raced to a two-goal lead inside the first half at the Riverside.

Fine individual efforts from Jack Moylan and Ollie Tanner threatened to earn the Bluebirds a first away win of the campaign.

But after Tommy Conway had pulled one back on 58 minutes, substitute Lankshear completed the comeback when he finished from the edge of the area to level three minutes later.

They could not find a winner, despite registering a total of 36 shots on target against a Cardiff side reduced to 10 men for the final seven minutes after a wild challenge from Gabriel Osho on Lankshear.

It was not enough to move promotion hopefuls Middlesbrough up the table, but it did preserve an unbeaten run that now stretches to nine matches.

And it was a tough lesson for Cardiff, who again caught the eye with some of their football and had worked so hard to keep Boro at bay before pressure told.

Given it ended a run of four straight defeats on the road, the travelling Cardiff fans would have welcomed the point.

But there were long periods where it seemed as if Cardiff had done enough for more as scramble defence, good goalkeeping and positive football had threatened to cause an upset.

The presence of Moylan also helped, the Republic of Ireland international once again deployed as a makeshift striker and making the most of it.

His goal on 22 minutes was an example of his confidence, Cardiff turning over possession and Moylan gliding past the attention of Aidan Morris before finishing smartly.

It was the former Lincoln City man's sixth league goal of the season, with his performance again suggesting he will be key in the Bluebirds' bid to re-establish themselves in the Championship.

He had a seemingly good claim for a penalty soon after too, Ash Phillips looking to have sent him tumbling as Cardiff waited for the right openings against a Boro side lacking their leading man, Lankshear starting on the bench for the first time this season.

And with Amario Cozier-Duberry among those either guilty of wasting chances or being denied by the goalkeeping of Nathan Trott, Cardiff then grabbed their second with their second shot on target.

This time it was Tanner who struck, offered space and invited to cut inside and curl from the edge of the area in first-half injury time.

Middlesbrough, though, found the energy they needed, with Lankshear immediately injecting some concern into the Cardiff defence.

The hosts finally made pressure count, Cozier-Duberry and Callum Brittain combining to tee up Conway for a first of the season.

And then Lankshear's inevitable contribution came, turning on the edge of the box and placing past Trott with his left foot to earn the point.

Osho deservedly walked for a reckless lunge on Lankshear, but Cardiff dug deep to earn a first point on the road since August.

Kim Hellberg – perhaps mindful of Boro's slip from the automatic spots last season – spoke in the week of the season being a marathon.

Maybe that was in mind when Kyle Jospeh was given the nod ahead of Lankshear, with the legs of the 21-year-old striker needing to be preserved a little for the long run ahead.

That didn't lessen the surprise when the line-ups were announced, especially given it is only Erling Haaland who has matched Lankshear in registering double-digits in goals in all competitions in England this season.

Credit to the Boro boss, though, who made the changes the game at half-time. Not just with the introduction of Lankshear, but with bringing on midfielder Seb Berhalter for defender Luke Ayling at the break.

In truth, Middlesbrough should have found a way to win after they completed their comeback with still half an hour to play. There was no late winner as per at Stoke in midweek.

But there is still something to be said for a side who have made a habit of earning points from losing positions, this following comeback wins against Lincoln and Norwich, as well as recovering from 2-0 down to draw 2-2 with Millwall. They will hope there is no such recovery needed when they head to Bolton on Friday.

Though it will sting Cardiff, it should also offer the Bluebirds hope. Still affected by injuries, they showed a clinical side that has been lacking so often on their return to this level and has contributed to their position in the table.

This marked the start of a daunting run of fixtures that continues with the visit of Birmingham City on Saturday before three games in a row against the recently relegated trio: Wolves, West Ham and Burnley.

Hellberg's pre-game assertion of Cardiff's impressive football played out, the visitors with some eye-catching one-touch football and confidence to carry it out against one of the division's most-threatening sides.

And, ceding possession in a game for the first time this season, it was pleasing to see Cardiff hold out even when down to 10 following Osho's red.

That could cause a problem with Cardiff already short of centre-back options, but there were certainly some positives to bring back from the north east.

Middlesbrough head coach Kim hellberg told BBC Tees:

"It's difficult to process. If you look at both halves, I think we were quite good in both halves.

"The difference in the first half is they scored two good goals where we should defend better and we were a little bit sloppy and not clinical enough. In the first-half we had so many chances to create more.

"In the second half we got a little bit better, got goals with our chances and overall we had around 40 shots.

"We had to defend goals better - that's a main thing that makes me disappointed. It was individual errors from some players in terms of things they always do so well. I understand why, because it's been three tough games in a short amount of time.

"The balance was (to rest Lankshear). You try as a coach to find the right way of when to give opportunities. It's not always about resting for the legs, it could be for the head, or as a coach a responsibility to create depth. We have enough players to do that."

Cardiff City head coach brian Barry-Murphy told BBC Sport Wales:

"With the scoreline as it was at half-time we are disappointed not to win, but the players gave absolutely everything for our supporters and in the end we just couldn't win.

"We had to survive at the end because the red card made it difficult. Against an opponent of this calibre in this stadium we knew it was going to be tough but the players put their bodies on the line and that's all we can ask.

"Our intention was to start in the same manner as against Watford and we looked dangerous.

"At half-time the intention was to step forward and push on again, but it wasn't possible; they came into the game and scored two brilliant goals themselves. It would be quite easy to feel sorry for ourselves, but we didn't and showed great resilience and toughness to get a great result."