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It would be foolish to read too much into the first pre-season friendly of the season, especially after the players involved had been up since 5.30am.

If a dawn alarm call was bad enough, they also endured a morning run and bike ride before making the three hour journey from their Bad Aussee base to Kumberg to play Sturm Graz, a team four games into their summer programme.

Tony Pulis named a strong starting line-up, handing debuts to news signings Paddy McNair and Aden Flint.

But the manager did have a surprise or two in store as he walked through the entrance of the picturesque Well Welt Stadion as it was being lashed by a pre-match downpour.

A defensive surprise in a giant backline

Looking at the team sheet, it seemed obvious that Dael Fry would partner Flint in the heart of the defence.

But Pulis opted to play the England Under-21 international at right-back and asked Ryan Shotton to play in the middle alongside the new signing from Bristol City

George Friend, wearing the captain's armband, kept his place at left-back in what must be one of Boro's tallest ever back fours.

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They all enjoyed a steady first half though, despite a lack of match practice.

That said, Friend did take a hefty knock on the head in the 21 minute when he challenged for a header. But, following treatment, he was soon back on the pitch.

Flint, who looks a formidable figure on and off the field of play, didn't require treatment when he endured an agonising kick on the kneecap in the 25 minute but he was determined to carry on regardless.

He did limp for the briefest moment but soon overcame the pain.

His balls out of defence could certainly cause the opposition pain, it must be said.

A prolific – for a defender – goalscorer, Flint has a lovely touch for such a tall man and has a range of passing that will come in handy.

No need to mess with the formula

Boro's midfield was impressively organised, shaping itself into a five man 'v'.

Patrick Bamford was asked to play wide on the right with Adama Traore on the opposite flank. The middle three comprised Adam Clayton sitting deep just in front of the back four with McNair to his left and Jonny Howson to his right.

They linked up well and certainly held their own against Champions League opposition.

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Traore's attitude was excellent and it was commendable to see the Spaniard racing back to make a vital block moments after charging forward at full pelt.

His distribution was tidy and he always looked to get forward.

Bamford made a good fist of his midfield role while McNair and Howson were full of energy and endeavour.

McNair was clearly filling the vacancy left by Mo Besic and, while it's early days, it was noticeable how often he looked to shoot the moment a chance arose. It bodes well for the future from an attacking perspective.

A game of two halves

Considering the match was a pre-match friendly played in far from ideal conditions, it was reasonably entertaining – for 45 minutes at least.

The first half was tight, well contested with little to choose between the sides.

Fabian Kock drilled a shot across the face of the goal in the second minute after Shotton slipped on the wet turf.

Then, four minutes later, Bamford controlled a throw before shooting at goal but the keeper saved.

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Stefan Hierlander should have done better with a 13 minute chance but failed to make a clean contact on the ball and Darren Randolph was able to smother the attempt.

A minute later Traore slipped on the wet surface, allowing Hierlander another chance but the Austrian failed to take it, firing wide.

McNair tried an ambitious in-swinger from a position to the left of goal outside the box but the ball flew wide in the 34 minute. Still, it was good to see a Boro central midfielder take the responsibility for himself.

Lukas Grozurek lashed a powerful shot over the bar on the 41 minute but Sturm took the lead seconds later when Koch charged down the right wing before sending over a fine cross that Markus Pink headed home from close range.

The goal was slightly harsh on Boro, who had played reasonably well up to that point and deserved to go into the break level.

A forgettable second half

The predictable rash of subs stopped the second half in its tracks.

Pulis made just one at the interval, sending on Dimi Konstantopoulos for Randolph.

But four minutes after the re-start he introduced no less than seven of his nine subs – the remaining replacement, Stewart Downing, replacing Bamford in the 81 minute

Boro lined up with a defence of Fabio, Fry, Shotton and Marcus Tavernier and a midfield made up of Bamford, Lewis Wing, Grant Leadbitter, Julien de Sart and Marvin Johnson. Ashley Feltcher replaced Gestede up top.

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The game understandably degenerated into scrappy contest for spell. However, Boro eventually settled into a groove and did push hard for an equaliser.

Ashley Fletcher had a close range effort flagged offside following good supply work from Bamford.

But that was the closest they came to claiming a draw.

A useful final workout after an exhausting boot camp in the Austrian hills.

How they lined up

Boro (4-5-1): Randolph (Konstantopoulos 46); Shotton, Fry, Flint (Tavernier 49), Friend (Fabio 49); Clayton (Leadbitter 49), Howson (De Sart 49), McNair (Wing 49), Traore (Johnson 49), Bamford (Downing 81); Gestede (Fletcher 49)

SK Sturm: Siebenhandl, Schrammel, Avlonitis, Lackner, Grozurek, Pink, Huspek, Hierlander, F Kock, Maresic

Subs: Schützenauer, Lovric, Jantscher, Fadinger, T Koch, Schubert, Obermair, Piras, Lema.