Albion were handed a promotion boost tonight – after the great race for Championship honours took a controversial twist.

Middlesbrough had to settle for a 2-2 draw at Birmingham City.

A third successive draw was enough to take Aitor Karanka’s men a point clear ahead of games for the Seagulls and Burnley on Monday.

But Boro were furious after defender Dani Ayala had a potential winner ruled out for what looked an incorrect offside call.

Grant Leadbitter almost won it very late for the Teessiders when his shot hit the bar.

But Albion and Burnley can have no complaints about the efforts put in by a Blues side with nothing to play for.

Birmingham midfielder Stephen Gleeson fired his side into a 33rd-minute lead with a shot which goalkeeper Dmitrios Konstantopoulos probably should have kept out.

Before that home keeper Adam Legzdins, replacing the injured Tomasz Kuszczak, made two fine saves to deny Jordan Rhodes.

But Legzdins let Boro back in the match when he fumbled a routine Gaston Ramirez free-kick and Rhodes converted the loose ball five minutes from the break.

Ramirez put the visitors ahead on the 57th-minute after Rhodes had headed the ball down.

David Davis replied with a super strike 11 minutes later.