Mido takes the ball off Griffin and works his way down the right wing before winning a corner for his side.

Four minutes of stoppage time are to be played at the end of this game - can Middlesbroug hold on?

All three of Middlesbrough's strikers have scored this season now - Southgate will be delighted with that.

Stoke still aren't giving up - Delap and Lawrence combine well as they launch a late attack before Huth clears the danger yet again. He has been superb today.

Tuncay has worked so hard this afternoon and he will be delighted to grab his first goal of the new campaign. He has given everything for his side and will just be hopeful they can hold onto the victory.

Middlesbrough have lost their way slightly after conceding the equaliser - they seem shocked that they aren't in front still.

Terrific skill from Aliadiere down the right hand side as he finds Tuncay, but he can't get the ball under control.

Downing looks to find Mido, but his pass is too heavy and the ball runs out for a goal kick.

Stoke seem more composed since the equaliser - they may even fancy their chances of grabbing an unexpected victory.

The Middlesbrough crowd weren't particularly happy with Alves being taken off - they feel he was one of their best chances of getting a winner.

Excellent ball from Taylor finds Alves and after some good skill he fires the ball towards goal, but Thomas Sorensen does well to save.

Mamady Sidibe replaces Fuller as Tony Pulis makes his second change of the afternoon.

Stoke will be delighted the have managed to get themselves back on level terms, now it is a matter of holding onto the point.

The resulting corner falls to substitute Digard but his curling effort goes wide of the post. Still no second goal for Southgate's men.

After Kitson loses the ball up front for Stoke, a Middlesbrough break ends in Tuncay having a shot deflected wide by Cort.

As they attempt to make up for the penalty miss, Middlesbrough attack through Tuncay, but the Turkish strike loses the ball and the attack breaks down. Stoke deserve praise for their attitude in this second half.

That really is a golden opportunity missed. A second goal would have virtually secured the points for Middlesbrough.

Middlesbrough fail to get their second goal as Downing's penalty hits the cross bar and is cleared. Stoke are still in the game - just.

It's a penalty for Middlesbrough after Griffin fouls Alves in the box - great chance for the home side to double their lead.

Fuller - who has had a quiet second half by his standards - attempts to run at goal but is stopped by a firm Huth challenge.

The crowd has gone rather quiet again and there is no doubt that they will start to get nervous if Middlesbrough don't get a second goal soon.

Stoke are having a bit more of the ball in the last couple of minutes and won't be giving up yet. They get a free kick which is whipped in by Lawrence and headed away by Huth. They must make the most of their set-pieces is they are to equalise.

Hoyte launches a Middlesbrough attack by setting Alves away, the striker then finds Tuncay with a neat pass, but he can't get a shot on target.

Southgate will want his side to get their second goal as soon as possible because as long as it is only 1-0, Stoke still have a chance of getting themselves back on level terms.

Alves gets himself involved for the first time in this half as he takes on two Stoke defenders before his pass just avades Tuncay. Good play from the Brazilian.

Corner for the home side is taken by Downing and falls to O'Neil, but he can't direct his effort towards goal. He was caught in two minds there.

The start Middlesbrough have made to this half is a complete contrast to the first - they are playing some excellent football with Downing in the thick of the action.

Free kick for Middlesbrough outside the box is taken by Downing, who watches as his effort curls round the wall and goes inches wide of the goal - excellent effort.

Emanuel Pogatetz finds Downing on the left hand side who attempts to fire the ball into the box but it is blocked somehow by Stoke. The away side are under a lot of pressure right now.

Excellent skill from Aliadiere almosts leads to that second goal, but his final shot at goal is off target. Good play from the youngster though.

It has to be said that if Middlesbrough get a secong goal early in this second half - that could just be curtains for Stoke City.

Middlesbrough are piling on the pressure now - first Aliadiere has a strike at goal before his blocked effort falls to Alves who fires wide. Good defending from Stoke.

The resulting corner finds Wheater who can't find the target with his header - he should have done better there and at least hit the target.

Aliadiere bursts down the right hand side and does well to cross the ball into the path of Tuncay, but Leon Cort manages to deflect the ball out of play for a corner.

Alves' confidence is up now after the goal and he attempts to find the back of the net again, but is long range effort is deflected wide of the post.

Stoke will just want the half time whistle to sound now without falling further behind.

The atmosphere at the Riverside has changed completely - the crowd are much louder than they were a few minutes ago.

Things seems a lot tougher for Stoke now - they are a man down and a goal down.

That sending off could change the game completely - can Middlesbrough capitalise?

Free kick for Stoke presents them with a good chance to get the ball into the box, but Lawrence's attempt is poor and Stoke lose possession.

Middlesbrough need to be a bit more patient when they get the ball, they seem in far too much of a rush to get the ball forward and as a result are losing possession regularly.

Amady Faye attempts a shot from long range, but it's high and wide of the Middlesbrough goal. Stoke will be happy with how things are going but they haven't created a clear cut chance as yet.

Tuncay gets the ball in a good position after Huth's clearance but with plenty of options on, the striker loses the ball to Abdoulaye Diagne-Faye. That sums up the first half for the home side.

Kitson and Fuller combine well up front for Stoke, before the latter is robbed of the ball by Jeremie Aliadiere who tracked back well for his side.

Southgate may consider changes at the break if things continue as they are. The likes of Downing, Alves and Tuncay haven't seen nearly enough of the ball in the opening 27 minutes.

As much as Stoke have threatend, Middlesbrough can be thankful to their central defensive partnership of Huth and Wheater - they have been very impressive so far making several key challenges and interceptions.

Corner for Stoke is taken by Lawrence, but it fails to create a chance for the away side. Middlesbrough will be plased about that because they are under pressure at the moment.

Stoke are on top at the moment and have had more of the ball in the last few minutes. There is a sense that they are intimidating the Middlesbrough players with their direct and aggressive style of play.

This game needs a goal - there is no doubt about that. Alves has had the best chance of the game, but other than that there hasn't been too many clear chances for either side.

Delap's long throw causes a problem for the Middlesbrough defence for the first time as Dave Kitson flicks the ball on before it is crucially cleared by Robert Huth. Stoke are playing well so far and are looking dangerous going forward.

A free kick for Stoke is fired towards goal by Lawrence and is saved well by Turnbull who concedes a corner. Fuller was waiting for the ball to fall to him then - good save though.

Another excellent chance for Alves, this time the ball falls to him in the box before he misses the ball completely with the goal at his mercy.

Ricardo Fuller is making his presence felt as he has his first attempt at goal - a curling shot which goes just wide of the post.

Middlesbrough have a good recent record at home. In their last three games at the Riverside, they have won them all, scoring 12 goals along the way.

Stoke seem a very organised side and they have certainly come into this game with a plan. Their defence is sitting deep and they will be looking to hit Middlesbrough on the counter attack.

Justin Hoyte and O'Neil link up well before the latter whips an excellent cross into the box where Afonso Alves heads the ball wide from close range. He should have scored that one - great chance.

The crowd is very quiet at the moment. The home side have failed to launch a significant attack as yet and Gareth Southgate won't be too pleased with the start they have made.

Corner for the away side is cleared to the feet of Seyi Olofinjana on the edge of the box, but his effort fails to trouble Ross Turnbull.

Rory Delap attempts one of his trademark long throws into the box, but Mohamed Shawky manages to clear it without too many problems. The Middlesbrough defence will need to watch that one today - it helped Stoke a lot against Aston Villa last week.

Stewart Downing gets himself involved for the first time as he collects the ball from Gary O'Neil before firing in a cross which is cleared well by the Stoke defence. Middlesbrough will want to get the ball to Downing as mich as possible today.

It's been a quiet start to the game, with nothing much to report as yet. Stoke will be happy if it stays like this.

Speaking of Lawrence, he is a very key player for Stoke City. He scored 15 goals last season and has already scored this season.

Middlesbrough make a sloppy start and give the ball away to Liam Lawrence, but his ambitious effort is way off the target.

If Middlesbrough manage a win today, it will be their best start to a Premier League season in nine years.