CHERRIES and Middlesbrough shared the spoils following an entertaining top-of-the-table clash at the Riverside today.

Boro probably edged the opening period in terms of possession, although both teams had chances to break the deadlock.

And although opportunities were again limited after the break, the visitors enjoyed the better of the second 45 minutes.

Birthday boy Yann Kermorgant was drafted in as boss Eddie Howe made one change to the Cherries starting line-up following the midweek win at Sheffield Wednesday.

Kermorgant, who today turned 33, replaced Brett Pitman as the Cherries team changed for the first time in six league games.

Boro boss Aitor Karanka sprang a surprise when he brought in Chelsea loanee Patrick Bamford in place of six-goal Spanish striker Kike.

The hosts fashioned the first shooting chance after 10 minutes when Lee Tomlin burst into the 18-yard box but Cherries goalkeeper Artur Boruc got down well to his left to save.

Cherries responded when Matt Ritchie met Marc Pugh’s cross from the left with a volley, although his effort went straight down Boro goalkeeper Dimi Konstantopoulos’s throat.

Howe’s men had an escape after 15 minutes when Adam Reach’s thunderous drive from around 30 yards came crashing back off the crossbar with Boruc seemingly beaten.

As Boro enjoyed the better of the early stages, Tomlin again weaved his way through to create an opening, the midfielder’s low drive deflected for a corner.

Konstantopoulos reacted well to push Ritchie’s ferocious drive over the crossbar, the Greek stopper pulling off a top-drawer save after a Charlie Daniels cross had been headed out to the winger.

A low drive from Daniels struck Patrick Bamford and looped over the crossbar before Simon Francis was booked for clattering Reach and Adam Clayton yellow carded for a foul on Kermorgant.

As Cherries grew into the first half, Harry Arter’s thunderbolt from 20 yards flew inches over the crossbar after Ritchie’s corner had only been half cleared by Boro.

Early in the second half, Callum Wilson clipped a chance over the crossbar after the ball had ricocheted to him eight yards out.

Wilson was unable to make contact with Marc Pugh’s hanging cross before a low centre from Daniels rolled just out of the striker’s reach.

Konstantopoulos got behind Pugh’s shot, which bounced awkwardly in front of him, before a double substitution saw Ryan Fraser and Brett Pitman replace Ritchie and Kermorgant after 74 minutes.

Pugh blazed a good chance over the crossbar following Fraser’s run across the top of the 18-yard box and Boruc claimed a dangerous centre from Albert Adomah.

Chances were few and far between in the second half, with Reach’s speculative effort in the final minute sailing high over the crossbar.

Cherries: Boruc, Francis, Cook, Elphick, Daniels, Ritchie (Fraser, 74), Surman, Arter, Pugh, Kermorgant (Pitman, 74), Wilson. Unused subs: Gosling, Rantie, Harte, Smith, Camp (g/k).

Booked: Francis, Arter, Fraser.

Boro: Konstantopoulos, Fredericks, Ayala, Gibson, Friend, Wildschut (Kike, h-t), Clayton, Leadbitter, Reach, Tomlin (Vossen, 80), Bamford (Adomah, 68). Unused subs: Nsue, Whitehead, Veljkovic, Mejias (g/k).

Booked: Clayton, Gibson.

Referee: Simon Hooper (Wiltshire).

Attendance: 22,930 (including 397 visiting supporters).