MIDDLESBROUGH WERE LEFT frustrated on their return to the Premier League as Stoke’s Xherdan Shaqiri rescued a 1-1 draw at the Riverside Stadium.
Aitor Karanka’s team are back in the English top flight after a seven-year absence and they experienced a rollercoaster opening match of the new campaign.
Alvaro Negredo marked his debut by giving Middlesbrough an early lead, but the hosts couldn’t make the most of their territorial dominance.
Middlesbrough, promoted as Championship runners-up, paid the price after the break when Stoke’s Swiss playmaker Shaqiri produced a fine free-kick to salvage a point.
Elsewhere, Erik Lamela’s second-half header rescued a 1-1 draw for Tottenham Hotspur and denied new Everton manager Ronald Koeman a winning start at Goodison Park.
Lamela equalised in the 59th minute after Everton had claimed a deserved lead through Ross Barkley’s early goal.
Everton had the better of the first half but Mauricio Pochettino’s side came back well after the interval and Argentine midfielder Lamela ensured their pressure paid off.
Only two fine saves late on from debutant Everton goalkeeper Maarten Stekelenburg denied Spurs as the north Londoners look to emulate last season’s title challenge.
Southampton manager Claude Puel and his Watford counterpart Walter Mazzarri started life at their respective new clubs with a 1-1 draw at St Mary’s.
Etienne Capoue put Watford ahead from Troy Deeney’s knock-down in the ninth minute, but Nathan Redmond volleyed home a 58th-minute leveller after a weak punch by Watford goalkeeper Heurelho Gomes.
Watford lost Ben Watson to a late red card for a last-man foul on Shane Long.
Dutch midfielder Leroy Fer struck eight minutes from time to give Swansea City a 1-0 win at newly-promoted Burnley.
The match at Turf Moor looked to be heading for a goalless draw before Fer popped up in the 82nd minute, firing home a rebound after a Tom Heaton save.
Salomon Rondon’s 74th-minute header earned West Bromwich Albion manager Tony Pulis a 1-0 victory on his return to former club Crystal Palace.
The Venezuelan striker glanced in a free-kick from substitute James McClean to give West Brom a first league victory in 10 attempts.
© AFP 2016
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