Middlesbrough 1 Saints 1
Middlesbrough : Schwarzer (Beresford 46), Gordon (Job 46), Vickers (Hanson 46), Mustoe, Karembu (Campbell 46), Ince (Marinelli 46), Windass (Deane 46), Whelan (Gordon 63), Copper, Gavin, Hudson (Dove 73)
Saints - Main (Cuthbert 77), Dasovic, Weir (Conway 90), Kernaghan, Russell (Hartley 85), Kane (McClune 72), Sylla, Parker (Connolly 46), O'Neill (Crozier 57), McCulloch, Forsyth (Lovenkrands 85)
Who says the SPL is inferior to the English? Fourth bottom of one matched fourth bottom of the other, although given that it was also a meeting of the draw specialists of both leagues the results was as predictable as a Soviet election. It's now three months to the day since Saints managed a win in the league or cup, but had they taken early chances in either half they could have ended that run.
Middlesbrough fielded the former Aberdeen forward Dean Windass signed only hours earlier from Bradford but he did little to impress. Early on Saints' Momo Sylla, always a threat on the right left Dean Gordon for dead and Nick Dasovic stole in at the near post to flick a header onto the top of the bar. Alan Kernaghan, against the club where he began his career 17 years ago brought a one-handed save from Mark Schwarzer from the edge of the area and Craig Russell was inches away from a spectacular flying header after Parker's left-wing cross.
But the goal Saints threatened came just after the half-hour. Ross Forsyth stole in at the near post but mishit his shot, only for the ball to fall perfectly at Parker's feet and he shot low into the corner from 10 yards out. Windass' main contribution wasa volley from 40 yards out after Alan Main had been forced into a hurried clearance under pressure from Noel Whelan, but the keeper saved.
The equaliser came 10 minutes before half time. Steve Vickers' high cross from just inside the half found Dean Gordon in an offside position but the play was allowed to continue and the defender beat Main from 15 yards.