Middlesbrough returned to the top of the Championship on Saturday (AEST), but only managed to get there with a point earned from a 2-2 draw at Birmingham City, which keeps the race for the title wide open.

The visitors' disappointment was amplified when Daniel Ayala found the net with the scores locked at 2-2, only to see his 'goal' questionably ruled out for offside. Grant Leadbetter also hit the bar late on with a smashing effort, but Aitor Karanka's men had to settle for the draw.

Just a point separates Boro from Burnley and Brighton & Hove Albion as the season moves into its final matches. Boro’s final game of the season is against Brighton, which it will need to win to secure promotion to the Premier League, as the threeway tussle for the title goes on.

Saturday's (AEST) game took some time to spring to life, with few chances of note in the first half-hour. Jordan Rhodes could have broken the deadlock for the visitors in the 29th minute when he was put through clear on goal, but City goalkeeper Adam Legzdins did well to meet him, blocking the shot.

Birmingham took full advantage of that moment, going in front soon after when Stephen Gleeson drove home a failed clearance, beating Boro's keeper Dimi Konstantopoulos from just outside the box.

While Legzdins had done well to give Birmingham a platform on which to build, he pulled it all to pieces for Middlesbrough's leveller, committing a horrifying mistake when he was unable to hold a Gaston Ramirez free-kick. As he fumbled to regain control of the ball, Rhodes stole in to poke it home and take there sides in level at the break 1-1.

Birmingham started the second half brightly, Ryan Shotton heading just wide within minutes of the restart. Boro then went close at the other end in a scramble inside the six-yard box, but was in front moments later when Gaston Ramirez headed home to make it 2-1 from Rhodes's assist.

The lead would not last, however, and Birmingham was level again on 68 minutes when David Davies lashed home a poorly headed clearance from just inside the box.

Within a minute of the equaliser, Ayala thought he had Boro back in front, but his effort was ruled out for offside, with replays suggesting the goal perhaps should have been allowed to stand.

Ayala was then required at the other end, making a crucial sliding tackle to block Maikel Kieftenbeld from burying a rebound from David Cotterill’s shot, which Kostantopoulos had only parried into the Dutchman’s path.

Boro’s last chance to win it game in the 88th minute, when Grant Leadbetter latched on to a loose ball from 25 yards and let fly with a rasping drive, which Legzdins knew little about but did enough to deflect on to the bar.

Middlesbrough will seal a return to the Premier League with victory over Brighton on the final day next weekend, however, with automatic promotion hopes still in its own hands, but the quest for the league title may now be over.