Middlesbrough fought back from 2-0 down to draw at mid-table Bristol City and keep alive their faint hopes of automatic promotion to the Premier League.

But Boro pulled one back in the 58th minute when Aaron Ramsey emphatically headed in Tommy Smith’s cross, and Ramsey then picked out Matt Crooks in the box to equalise six minutes later.

Both sides almost grabbed a late winner, but home defender Zak Vyner could only divert a free-kick onto the top of the crossbar from three yards out and Boro substitute Cameron Archer had a stoppage-time goal ruled out for offside.

The Teessiders remain fourth following a third match without a win and are eight points behind second-placed Sheffield United, having played two games more.

However, the Blades have the chance to extend the gap to the Championship play-off places when they face promoted Burnley in Monday’s late kick-off (20:00 BST).

Boro show spirit in second-half comeback

The hosts had started brightly, with Cornick having two shots from inside the area blocked by Darragh Lenihan in the fourth minute.

That set the tempo for a frantic opening quarter as unmarked Boro striker Chuba Akpom headed Ryan Giles’ cross wide from six yards out, while visiting keeper Zack Steffen made a fine save to deny Andi Weimann.

The opener came when Cornick spotted Bell in space on the left-hand side of the box and the young forward opened up his body before stroking the ball past the onrushing Steffen.

Bell was involved in the move to make it 2-0 as his low shot across goal was tipped away by Steffen, but Nahki Wells was on hand to square the loose ball for Cornick to net his first goal since joining Bristol City in January.

Yet Boro showed a great response, underlining their spirit and upturn in form since Michael Carrick was appointed boss last October and inspired a swift rise up the table.

First Ramsey dived in to powerfully divert Smith’s cross inside the left-hand upright from eight yards out and Crooks then found space and beat the Robins offside trap to slot in the leveller.

The contest then became scrappy, although Vyner could have won it when he got on the end of an in-swinging Matty James delivery from the left flank.

However, the ball came off the top of the centre-back’s thigh and looped over, much to the relief of the visiting players and their supporters.

There was still time for Riley McGree to fire a low shot straight at Robins keeper Max O’Leary, and Archer was then correctly flagged offside in the process of rounding O’Leary and finishing smartly from a narrow angle.

With a top-two finish looking an increasingly distant prospect, Boro will now be aiming to clinch their play-off spot after ending the day six points clear of seventh place.

However, eighth-placed Norwich, themselves a point off the top six, are the visitors to the Riverside Stadium on Saturday, so Carrick will need to quickly refocus his squad for the final five games.

Bristol City boss Nigel Pearson told BBC Radio Bristol:

“We deserved to get in front. We started the second half very well. If I’m being critical, we could have done better with both goals. Players switched off in terms of marking for the first goal, and the second goal was a poor decision in how we cleared the ball.

“There are still lots of really good things. We played with a good intensity and showed a desire to take our game to them. It was a good performance generally. It’s a decent advert but it’s not good for your hairline or hair colour, that’s for sure.

“Harry Cornick’s goal was reward for his work-rate and ability to stay in the game. I was really pleased for him that our fans can see what he’s about. I like working with honest players who enjoy the work and want to improve.”

Middlesbrough boss Michael Carrick told BBC Radio Tees:

“Bristol City are dangerous, with real speed in attack and transitions. With a swirling wind, it wasn’t easy. We dealt with it for large parts but a couple of crucial moments cost us.

“It was a strange game, in many ways. The story of the past few weeks has been playing well in spells and giving a bit too much away at certain times. That’s something we have to put right, there’s no hiding from that.

“For the character and the way the boys came back into the game, kept believing and had great moments, I can’t fault the effort. It’s the details that we need to look after a little bit better. We need a strong finish to the season and to get back to winning football matches.”