Huddersfield Town had to make do with a point on Teesside as James Vaughan’s 11th goal of the season was cancelled out with 11 minutes remaining.

Mark Robins ’ side has scented a second away win of the Championship campaign when the in-form frontman diverted in an Oscar Gobern drive in the 59th minute.

But Ben Gibson’s headed leveller meant a fourth stalemate in five league games for Town – and a sixth draw in eight for Boro.

A share of the soils was a fair reflection of a game played our in front of just 12,793, including 599 Town fans.

Town made two changes to their starting side after Friday’s 1-1 home draw with Blackpool , bringing in Gobern and Sean Scannell at the expense of Ollie Norwood and Jon Stead – who dropped to the bench.

That meant Riverside Stadium returns for Middlesbrough-born midfielder Jonathan Hogg , who was a junior at his hometown club before joining Aston Villa, and former Boro loan player Adam Hammill.

Boro, seeking a first home win of the season at the seventh attempt, had their Aussie skipper Rhys Williams back from suspension, but fellow centre-back Jonathan Woodgate missed out because of a calf injury.

Manager Mark Robins, who shifted Joel Lynch to left-back as he matched up Boro’s 4-3-3 formation, had said Town looked bright and breezy in training during the build-up, and they began the match in that fashion.

With Hammill playing an advanced role, Town were passing with confidence, and Adam Clayton played in Vaughan with a neat early pass, only for the forward to be flagged offside, so ending a promising move.

The home side, looking a little anxious, were finding it hard to keep possession, but Town, while quick to seize in any slips, were unable to take advantage by creating any clear-cut chance in the opening 10 minutes.

Lynch had to work hard to shackle Albert Adomah, and when the former Bristol City man did give him the slip in the 15th minute, Anthony Gerrard reacted smartly to cut out a pass intended for frontman Kei Kamara.

Another Boro lapse allowed Hogg to slip an inside pass to Clayton, who advanced and shot goalwards only for his ambitious effort to curl off target as Town continued to look the more dangerous of the two sides.

Alex Smithies had to race out of his area to clear as Adomah chased a long ball down the right in the 23rd minute, then the Town keeper had his hands warmed in parrying a rising shot by Mustapha Carayol as Tony Mowbray’s side finally mounted a genuine attack.

And Town had a nervy moment when Smithies handled Gobern’s 26th-minute back pass to concede an indirect free-kick from which Boro teed up Grant Leadbitter for a low shot which was blocked by Vaughan.

Hammill, having been freed by Clayton, curled a cross-cum-shot against the face of the bar after 34 minutes, but Smithies then took centre stage, making saves from Carayol’s shot and Kamara, who tested the stopper with a powerful drive and then a header.

Smithies then had to backpedal to tip Frazer Richardson’s swerving delivery over the top, while Peter Clarke did well to clear a low cross from the same player as Town found themselves under pressure for the first time.

Town brought on Danny Ward for Scannell seven minutes into the second half and the substitute certainly pepped things up as Town won a trio of corners before finally taking the lead just before the hour mark.

Ward shot against the post from Hammill’s cross and when the ball was only partially cleared, Gobern drilled it in low for Vaughan to get the key touch to beat keeper Jason Steele.

Middlesbrough FC 1 Huddersfield Town 1 01/10/13 James Vaughan's goal
Middlesbrough FC 1 Huddersfield Town 1 01/10/13 James Vaughan's goal

Boro responded by bringing in former Town loan striker Lukas Jutkiewicz, who soon after crossed for Kamara to glance a header wide before Dean Whitehead fired over.

Town were working hard to keep their lead, but Boro finally broke their defensive resolve in the 79th minute when centre-back Gibson rose to head home cleanly from Leadbitter’s corner.

Manager Mark Robins immediately replaced Hammill with full-back Calum Woods as Town went to three centre-backs, Lynch moving inside.

Boro were now pushing forward eagerly, and Williams headed against the woodwork from substitute Justin Hoyte’s cross.