Adam Randell's thumping last-minute header gave Bristol City a point at promotion-chasing Middlesbrough, who have now failed to win any of their past four home games.

Boro looked to be on course to hold out for a vital win before the midfielder was left unmarked in the area from a corner to score with his side's first effort on target in the sixth minute of time added on.

Substitute Leo Castledine gave the Teessiders the lead with a fierce finish from Hayden Hackney's pass with 25 minutes to play.

Fellow replacement David Strelec fired straight at keeper Radek Vitek in the City goal when a second might well have wrapped it up, and they were ultimately made to pay.

The draw means Boro are two points clear of Millwall before the Lions host struggling Blackburn later on Saturday afternoon.

A point ends Gerhard Struber's side's four-match losing run but they appear destined to end in mid-table.

This could potentially prove to be a damaging day for Middlesbrough's automatic promotion bid.

Not only could they now slip out of the top two if Millwall win their game in hand, but influential skipper Hackney had to be substituted after pulling up shortly after setting up Castledine's goal.

Hellberg's men have now taken just three points from home games against Oxford United, Leicester, Charlton and Bristol City, as anxiety around their attempt to end their nine-year top-flight absence increases.

They had the better of things in a low-key first half, but Tommy Conway's early header from close range that went well over was the best they could muster.

Manchester United loanee Vitek made a wonderful reaction save to deny Alan Browne a seemingly certain goal when the Republic of Ireland international looked to follow in Aidan Morris' initial effort.

Castledine eventually did put the home side in front with his first goal for the club since joining from Chelsea, after Boro opened up the visitors with some incisive passes through the lines.

Strelec should have made it 2-0 when a slip left him clean in on goal, but he dallied before sending a weak shot at Vitek.

With just over 60 seconds of time added on left to play Randell, back from a one-game ban, thundered in a header from Tomi Horvat's wicked corner, with the home defence preoccupied by Vitek having come forward for the last-ditch set piece.

Boro, who boast the league's best away record, will look to bounce back at Blackburn next Saturday, while City host fellow strugglers West Brom later that afternoon.

Middlesbrough boss Kim Hellberg told BBC Radio Tees:

"It's tough to lose two points in the last minute against a team that you are playing off the pitch for 90 minutes, but it's football.

"We should have killed the game off earlier, so it doesn't come down to those small margins. I'm proud of the performance but disappointed of the result.

On seven minutes of stoppage time: "Teams are coming here and they are not trying to play and then they add on seven minutes for a team that didn't want to play from the first minute.

"It's ridiculous. It is not the football we want. There was one minute added on in the first half. It makes no sense."

Bristol City boss Gerhard Struber told BBC Radio Bristol:

"I think it's a big point. We know what level Middlesbrough are on at the moment and I think this was a very disciplined performance.

"In the end it was well deserved because of the discipline and the effort.

"Our goalkeeper showed how important he is for us to pick up points.

"I had a feeling Adam had jumped on a trampoline, he was so high. Tomi Horvat's delivery was outstanding.

"It's a release when you get results like we have had in the past few weeks. The point here has more value right now, (it's) like a win. It gives us a big push."