Definition: In this task, you will be presented with a passage and have to answer a question based on your understanding of the events inferred from the passage. Try to find the best answer that is most likely to fill in "_". Note that the URLs in the text have been replaced with [Link].
Input: No doubt Middlesbrough came here looking for a statement performance to justify their tag as Championship promotion favourites. Alas, it wasn't to be. They were stifled by a workmanlike Preston North End side simply delighted to be back at this standard and certainly not looking out of place. Perhaps there is still a hangover from that disappointing May afternoon at Wembley when Boro saw their chances of a long-anticipated Premier League return dashed by Norwich City. Maybe that defeat isn't quite out of the Teesside psyche just yet because this was a distinctly underwhelming performance to open the campaign with.Preston return to second tier of English football with a hard-fought pointGrant Leadbitter should have scored for Middlesbrough after 10 minutesWill Keane had his effort for Preston cleared off the line by George FriendStewart Downing nearly pinched it for Boro on his his second debutJoe Garner unable to convert Greg Cunningham's cross in dying minutes 
 Question:And George Friend was in the right place at the right time on the goalline to block Keane's shot after Dimi Konstantopoulos's punch under pressure failed to clear _'s lines.

Middlesbrough