McDonald, who scored in the midweek 3-3 draw with Ipswich, rescued a point for Boro when he headed the equaliser on 84 minutes.

Barnsley had earlier taken a 22nd-minute lead through Marlon Harewood but the Australia international levelled when he got on the end of Tarmo Kink's cross to head into the bottom corner.

Elsewhere overnight, Richard Garcia also got on the scoresheet as Hull City kept alive their play-off hopes with a 3-1 win over Doncaster Rovers.

Garcia scored the opening goal of the match on nine minutes after Rovers keeper Gary Woods only palmed away Matty Fryatt's shot, presenting the Aussie was a simple finish.

But the Aussie was worryingly stretchered off before half-time with a knee injury.

Meanwhile in Holland's Eredivisie, Socceroo Brett Holman scored as AZ Alkmaar defeated ADO Den Haag 3-1.

The Australian scored with a right-footed finish into the bottom corner on the hour mark after Hector Moreno's pass.

In Germany's 2.Bundesliga, Nikita Rukavytsya provided two assists to take his season tally to 12 as Hertha Berlin defeated VfL Osnabruck 4-0 to edge within a win of promotion.