Middlesbrough overcame atrocious conditions to go away with a point and continue a fine start to the season.

BBC Radio 5 Live final whistle match report

While one-touch football was the order of the day for Boro, moves occasionally broke down with sloppy control in a torrential downpour at Selhurst Park.

Wimbledon's style was predictably far more direct and it enabled them to come back with a fine second half performance.

It seemed early on that the visitors would run away with the game and after three minutes, the Premiership's most deadly marksman Hamilton Ricard wrongfooted the Dons back four.

Receiving a cross the Colombian cleverly directed a ball to the far post, only to see Andy Roberts head over under pressure from Dean Blackwell.

Goalscorer Robbie Mustoe holds off Robbie Earle

Fifteen minutes later Jason Euell, failed to add to his season's four goals as Boro keeper Marlon Beresford lay on the ground having fumbled a cross.

With the goal at his mercy, the Dons' youngster fired over.

Goals were inevitable as the ball raced from end to end, and the first came in the 23rd minute when Dean Gordon crossed superbly to Robbie Mustoe.

The ball tantalised and split the Dons' defence enough for Mustoe to power his shot over Scottish international goalkeeper Neil Sullivan, off the underside of the reverberating bar and over the line.

The home side would not stay down and within three minutes, a corner was awarded on the left wing.

Hughes swung a direct pass across to the near post for Gayle to meet.

The perfect connection left none of the Boro defence with a chance and the ball was instantly in the back of the net.

It took just 10 more minutes for a third goal as Ricard received a long Curtis Fleming ball in the 37th minute.

The Columbian broke free of the Dons defence to spear a header into the back of the net for his 10th goal of the season.

It counted despite Joe Kinnear's protestations of offside.

The Wimbledon manager will have been even unhappier a minute after half time when Gayle put the ball in the back of the net only to be dragged back for offside.

But it signalled a second half of Wimbledon dominance as efforts from Ireland captain Kenny Cunningham and Gayle were scrambled clear by Beresford.

But he could not turn the tide, and his only mistake of the second-half was punished by Gayle.

Picking up a Cunningham cross in the six-yard box, he rose above his marker to head home.

Wimbledon

Sullivan, Cunningham, Perry, Blackwell, Thatcher, Earle, Roberts, Gayle, Leaburn, Hughes, Euell. Subs: Kimble, Ardley, Heald, Kennedy, Cort.

Middlesbrough

Beresford, Fleming, Gordon, Vickers, Festa, Mustoe, Deane, Townsend, Ricard, Summerbell, Cooper. Subs: Schwarzer, Beck, Stamp, Blackmore, Stockdale.