Swansea City 1-1 Middlesbrough: Boro's play-off hopes hit by Swans draw

Michael Obafemi celebrates after scoring his 11th goal of the season

Middlesbrough's Championship play-off hopes suffered another setback as they were held to a 1-1 draw at Swansea City.

Riley McGree ended Boro's four-game goal drought with a deflected drive at the start of the second half.

But Swansea trailed for just two minutes as Michael Obafemi produced his latest cool finish.

Middlesbrough are five points off the play-offs having failed to win in five games.

The draw sees them climb a place to eighth, but victories are needed if they are to force their way into the top six.

They might have claimed all three points here had Aaron Connolly's late effort not come back off the post - the third time the woodwork rattled in a thrilling second half.

Swansea drop to 14th, but are finishing the season in good shape having stretched their longest unbeaten run under Russell Martin to eight games.

Middlesbrough had been boosted on the eve of the game by boss Chris Wilder's declaration that he is "all in" at the Teesside club despite speculation linking him with a move to Burnley.

The Riverside club were in need of a lift having stumbled in recent weeks, taking only one point in the four games before the long trip to Wales.

Wilder's side pressed high when possible in the early stages, and their bold approach almost paid dividends when Swansea coughed up possession near halfway.

McGree rolled a pass in behind for Duncan Watmore, but his rising drive flew just the wrong side of Andy Fisher's post.

Swansea, as is usually the case, dominated the ball - but made little impression in the final third before the break.

Their one sight of goal came when Joel Latibeaudiere lofted a pass into the area for Flynn Downes, but his hooked half-volley drifted over the bar.

The contest came to life in the first minute of the second half, when a rare Matt Grimes error presented possession to McGree and his drive from outside the area deflected off Kyle Naughton and bounced into the net via the underside of the bar.

Middlesbrough's first goal since 2 April really ought to have been followed by a second two minutes later, but Marcus Tavernier shot too close to Fisher.

Fisher's save started a counter-attack which ended with Swansea's equaliser, as Joel Piroe fed Obafemi and he turned away from Sol Bamba before placing a shot beyond Luke Daniels from the edge of the box.

After the calm of the first half, chaos suddenly reigned.

Marc Bola missed out on a goal-of-the-season contender as his glorious 25-yard volley crashed back off the crossbar, and Swansea escaped again when Anfernee Dijksteel was denied by Fisher and another Tavernier effort was cleared off the line.

Once more Martin's team responded on the break, with Cyrus Christie picking out Hannes Wolf at the far post only for the Austrian to see Daniels push his sweet half-volley on to the bar.

Middlesbrough's players celebrate Riley McGree's first goal of the club

Piroe's 20-yard effort then drew a sprawling stop from Daniels, who was on hand again to deny Ryan Manning.

Ben Cabango then headed wide when he looked odds on to score, before Andraz Sporar's drive was parried by Fisher.

Middlesbrough looked certain to win it when substitute Connolly went through on goal in the 90th minute, but his low shot rolled to safety off the base of the post after a slight touch from Fisher.

Swansea head coach Russell Martin:

"I thought it was a really high level game. The first half I really liked. We had so much dominance and control. We have to make more of that.

" The start of the second half, an uncharacteristic mistake, that's on me. Grimesy has been incredible, so brave.

"I'm grateful to them for the way they reacted and the game came to life I guess. At 1-1 the atmosphere shot up. The game became really open and we wanted to score quickly because we got caught up in the emotion.

"The game became far too open. It was scary stuff. They had a few too many chances and we'll learn from that."

Middlesbrough manager Chris Wilder:

"It could have gone either way. We are obviously a touch disappointed. I always believe when we play Swansea and they are full of confidence, they do that to everybody. I don't get fazed about possession - they have great players and they play a way that suits the football club.

"I do think the way they play sometimes gives you an opportunity to create and punish. We didn't do that. We have had some great chances. We have got to do better.

"I know they had chances too - it was fabulous viewing and a few heart attacks for the managers.

"It's a huge game for us on Wednesday night [against Cardiff], a season-defining game for us."