Gianfranco Zola was still smiling, but it looked a struggle. “I’m tired,” he said. “It has been a long week.” There is far more to management than picking a team, looking dapper, signing autographs and speaking to the media; the journey from the dressing-room to the dugout is physically short but metaphorically steep. “When I was a player, I thought it looked so easy,” Zola said.

The West Ham United manager could have done worse than seek solace from his Middlesbrough counterpart. Gareth Southgate speaks openly about his first, traumatic season in the job, waking up in the night to write down possible teams on scraps of paper, of changing his mind on selection issues en route to the ground, of suddenly bearing the heavy weight of responsibility.

Zola has been in place since early September. It is his first domestic position, for which there is no text-book and less patience. Having lost four games in succession before their visit to Teesside, the Italian found himself among the favourites with bookmakers to be dismissed.

Little wonder that Zola was fatigued. “I have been in the job for a couple of months and it has been tough,” he admitted. “Sometimes, it feels more tiring to be on the bench than it is on the pitch. I’m enjoying it, but I thought it was much easier.”

He described the draw with Middlesbrough as a “huge point”. Having grasped the lead through a deflected volley from Hayden Mullins, West Ham could have extended it, but their performance was sound. Southgate’s players responded well in the second half, Mido, the substitute, equalised with a fine free kick and Ross Turnbull was brilliant in goal.

“I have to prove to the manager that I should be in the team and the only way I can is by playing well and scoring,” Mido said. “All I can do is make his life difficult.” As Zola has discovered, it goes with the territory.

Mark of Respect - 7/10

Justin Hoyte, of Middlesbrough, had a good goal ruled out for offside but Gareth Southgate was the model of restraint. “It was very tight, but I’m not displeased,” he said. “It was a tough call for the linesman.”

Middlesbrough (4-4-2): R Turnbull 9 – D Wheater 5 (sub: J Hoyte, 46min 6), C Riggott 6, E Pogatetz 7, A Taylor 6 – J Aliadière 5, D Digard 4 (sub; J Arca, 57 7), G O’Neil 6, S Downing 6 – Afonso Alves 5 (sub: Mido, 67 7), Tunçay Sanli 7. Substitutes not used: B Jones, M Emnes, A Johnson, J Grounds. Booked: Wheater, Riggott, Arca. Next: Aston Villa (a).

West Ham United (4-4-2): R Green 7 – L Neill 5, J Collins 6, M Upson 6, H Ilunga – J Faubert 5, J Mullins 7, J Collison 6, L Boa Morte 6 (sub: L Bowyer, 85) – C Bellamy 7, F Sears 7 (sub: M Etherington, 74). Substitutes not used: J Walker, W López, D Tristán, J Tomkins, D Di Michele. Booked: Neill, Collison, Boa Morte, Bellamy. Next: Everton (h).

Referee A Marriner Attendance 25,164