Afternoon folks! On another busy Saturday of sport, we'll be focussing here on the Championship match between Middlesbrough and Bournemouth. No time to waste, let's get straight to the teams.

BORO XI: Konstantopoulos; Fredericks, Ayala, Gibson, Friend; Reach, Leadbitter, Clayton; Wildschut, Tomlin, Bamford
Subs: Mejias, Vossen, Nsue, Whitehead, Kike, Adomah, Veljkovic

BOURNEMOUTH XI: Boruc; Francis, Cook, Elphick, Daniels; Pugh, Arter, Surman, Ritchie; Wilson, Kermorgant
Subs: Camp, Smith, Harte, Gosling, Pitman, Fraser, Rantie

Middlesbrough boss Aitor Karanka makes two changes to the side that thrashed Norwich City 4-0 in midweek. Kike and Albert Adomah drop to the bench, with Adam Reach and Yannick Wildschut coming in.

Bournemouth, meanwhile, have one change in their starting XI from the team that edged out Sheffield Wednesday on Tuesday. It comes up front as Yann Kermorgant is preferred to Brett Pitman to partner Callum Wilson.

WATCH: The teams are warming up. The Riverside is ready! https://t.co/d8aKeXn2iN — Middlesbrough FC (@Boro) November 8, 2014

Speaking of Wilson, he was awarded with the October Player of the Month award yesterday. His manager Eddie Howe also claimed Manager of the Month after a 100% record last month.

The Cherries are certainly the hottest team in the league at the moment, but Boro are second in the form table and represent a huge test for Howe and his players.

PREDICTION TIME! Ten minutes until kickoff at the Riverside, so it's time for my prediction on the upcoming match. Both sides know what's at stake, so I think that it could be a cagey draw. 1-1.

On the day before Remembrance Sunday, we will be having a minute's silence before kickoff to remember those who lost their lives at war.

#afcb will be sporting poppies on their shirts today. All proceeds from #BidToRemember goes to the Poppy Appeal. pic.twitter.com/BKDOi8Uimt — AFC Bournemouth (@afcbournemouth) November 8, 2014

STAT: Middlesbrough are unbeaten in their last six against Bournemouth, winning two and drawing four.

Today's referee at the Riverside is Simon Hooper.

© Getty Images

We will now have the minute's silence at the Riverside, before the match ball is delivered to referee Hooper by a serviceman.

KICKOFF! And we're underway in the North-East. Can Bournemouth make it seven league wins in a row and return to the top, or will Boro put an end to their incredible run?

Boro get off to a great start, winning a free kick close to the Bournemouth box. It's a poor delivery from Leadbitter though and Bournemouth hoof clear.

Boro continue to see more of the ball in the early stages. There hasn't really been a chance yet, but it certainly doesn't look like Bournemouth will be breaking the deadlock.

UPDATE: The first goal of the day in the Championship is scored at Elland Road as Leeds United take the lead against Blackpool, who are simply dreadful at the moment, even under new manager Lee Clark's guidance.

Kermorgant is careless with possession in the middle and Tomlin takes the ball away from him. The Boro frontman bears down on the Bournemouth goal and worms his way into the box, but he's a little off-balance when he shoots so gets no power behind his left-foot effort.

'Anything you can do, I can do better,' says Wilson as he emulates Tomlin's trickery a moment ago with a run into the box of his own. The Bournemouth number 13, who received his first call-up to the England Under-21s this week, manages to dig out a cross that Ritchie acrobatically volleys straight at Konstantopoulos.

OFF THE BAR! Reach was rewarded with a new Boro contract recently and he's just showcased why the club are keen to keep hold of him - a rocket from 25 yards that slams back off the face of the crossbar.

CLOSE! Tomlin has been so bright for Boro in the early stages and once again his quick feet are too good for the Bournemouth defenders, who can't get the ball off him before he shoots just wide of the post.

It's been a pulsating start to this game, especially by the home side. They look really up for this and have got the crowd fully into it. Bournemouth look a little overawed and need to start showing more of their recent form soon.

Half-hearted appeals for a Boro penalty as Reach hits another long-ranger that ricochets off a Bournemouth defender. There was barely five yards between the two men and it would have been extremely harsh on Bournemouth had that been given.

Elphick is lucky not to be booked after tugging at Bamford, who was trying to burst into the box. Had the offence been a yard or two further, it would have been a penalty. Leadbitter takes the free kick, but it's another disappointing one.

SAVE! What a save by Konstantopoulos! Bournemouth almost nick a goal on the counter as Daniels's cross finds Ritchie, whose technically-sound volley from the edge of the area is arrowing towards the roof of the net when the Greek stopper instinctively sticks out a hand to tip it over.

CLOSE! It's all Bournemouth out of nowhere and they come so close again to the opener. This time Daniels's cross-cum-shot is deflected and loops agonisingly just over the bar.

BOOKING! Bournemouth right-back Francis goes into the book for a late foul on Reach.

Half an hour gone then and what a 30 minutes it's been! I predicted beforehand that both sides might be a little cautious given that it is a top-of-the-table clash, but it's been the complete opposite. Boro were electric at the start, but Bournemouth have had their chances too in the last 10 minutes.

BOOKING! It's now 1-1 on the yellow-card count as Clayton is cautioned for a foul on Kermorgant.

Despite their great start, Boro have only managed to get one shot on target and that was Tomlin's tame early effort. They won't come any closer to a goal today than Reach's rocket that hit the bar, though.

Bournemouth have actually had more shots on target - two - and that save by Konstantopoulos to deny Ritchie was one of the best you'll see all season.

SHOT! Wow, this is an incredible strike by Arter, who lets a cleared ball from a corner drop onto his left foot before whacking a first-time volley inches over the bar. Brilliant technique and so unlucky that the ball didn't quite dip enough.

BOOKING! Boro centre-back Gibson is yellow-carded after bringing down Wilson.

TWO minutes of added time are signalled by the fourth official.

It's as you were at the break then, but not for the want of trying. Both sides have gone for it and had their spells on top. A goalless half, but an entertaining one.

If you're only just joining us here and want a swift recap of the opening 45, read our half-time report here.

AS THINGS STAND in the Championship, Bournemouth and Boro will remain level on 31 points, one adrift of Derby at the top of the table. If Watford end up beating Ipswich, then they will go above both of them and into second.

SNAPSHOT: Wilson rides Clayton's challenge as he goes in search of a breakthrough goal. #MFCvAFCB #afcb pic.twitter.com/p667xGiZYm

— AFC Bournemouth (@afcbournemouth) November 8, 2014

Almost 400 Bournemouth fans have made the arduous trip North this afternoon. The total attendance is 22,930.

BORO SUB: Karanka makes a half-time change, bringing on Spanish striker Kike for Wildschut. It's not a surprising one, as Wildschut had done very little in the opening half. Kike should given them more bite up top.

KICKOFF! Boro get us back underway at the Riverside.

Kike is immediately involved as Tomlin plays him in down the left. Elphick is back to square up the Spaniard and gives him little option but to shoot and his effort is straight at the Cherries' defender.

Ritchie with a lovely nutmeg to get past Friend on the right wing. Unfortunately for Bournemouth, the ball had just rolled out of play before Ritchie's bit of skill. He looks bewildered, but the linesman was right there.

CHANCE! October's Championship Player of the Month has a great chance to put the visitors in front, but he can only poke over a bouncing ball after a Boro clearance ricochets off Ritchie and into the path of the striker. Gibson slides in and does enough to put Wilson off, but was that a penalty and red card offence. The Boro man didn't get the ball and you could argue that the challenge was late and put off Wilson.

Tomlin's ball over the top for Kike is clever and it looks like the Spaniard is in, but it's just got too much on it and Boruc is out to collect.

It opens up for Leadbitter about 25 yards out, but he can't get over his curler and Boruc can watch it wide.

Ooooh, Clayton is a lucky, lucky boy. He cynically trips Kermorgant in the middle and you have to wonder, if he had not already been booked, would that have been a yellow card?

Karanka is fuming on the sideline and it looks like he's unhappy with opposite number Howe, who presumably was claiming that Clayton should be sent off.

CLOSE! Chances have been less frequent in the second half, but Bournemouth almost nab the opener as Pugh's cross is just too far ahead of Wilson in the middle. If he was a foot taller, that was the opener.

BORO SUB: It was quite surprising to see Adomah, like Kike, on the bench today and he's just come on for Chelsea loanee Bamford.

A little over 20 minutes left then and it remains goalless on Teesside. The top six are all playing each other today and after Derby's 5-0 thrashing of Wolves, Ipswich and Watford are also locked in a stalemate at Portman Road. Translation = Great day for Derby.

SHOT! Pugh's effort from 20 yards or so is a tough one for Konstantopoulos as it bounces just in front of him, but he makes a good save.

BOURNEMOUTH SUBS: Howe makes his first changes of the afternoon, taking off Kermorgant and Ritchie for Brett Pitman and Ryan Fraser.

BOOKING! Arter is cautioned for a foul on Tomlin. Ironic cheers from the home fans greet the raising of a yellow card.

Leadbitter's free kick into the middle is an inviting one, but Ayala is adjudged to have fouled Boruc in the air and the danger is ended.

BORO SUB: Karanka makes his third and final change, taking off the impressive Tomlin, who is maybe a little tired, for Jelle Vossen.

Vossen has seen quite a bit of the ball already and just sent over a dangerous cross, but once again Boro can't take advantage because of a foul on Cherries keeper Boruc.

UPDATE: There has been a goal in the other top-six clash this afternoon as Ipswich sneak ahead against Watford. Top 6 as it stands: Derby, Bournemouth, Boro, Ipswich, Watford, Brentford.

Does either side want to win it? They both know that a late goal will send their side top of the table.

Reach darts inside from the right and has room to fire at goal from 20 yards. It's another well-struck effort, but this time he gets under it too much and it flies over the top. How much added time will we have?

FOUR minutes added on at the Riverside.

You usually get at least one late chance in added time, but so far there's been little goalmouth action since the 90-minute mark.

FULL-TIME: BORO 0-0 BOURNEMOUTH

It's all over here at the Riverside and honours end even with a 0-0 draw against @afcbournemouth pic.twitter.com/ioV9y3lFEF

— Middlesbrough FC (@Boro) November 8, 2014

In the end, the game between the top two disappointed slightly. The first half an hour or so had a really high tempo, but the players all looked a little jaded after half time. Maybe that was because this was the third game in a week.

Here's how the top six looks now:

Tremendous win for Town that. Up to fourth in the table. #itfc pic.twitter.com/7LM6SjQOZF

— Pascal Lemesre (@_PascalDL) November 8, 2014

Even though Bournemouth and Boro have missed out on first place this afternoon, they're still just a point behind Derby in what is a really tight top 10. Just six points separate Derby at the top and Norwich in 10th.

That's all we've got time for unfortunately. No more Championship football for the next two weeks because of international fixtures. When it all returns, Boro travel to Wigan while Bournemouth host fellow high-flyers Ipswich.

Do have a click around the site to read instant match reports for all Championship and Premier League. There'll be plenty of reaction on site for you to tuck into as well very soon. Enjoy your evening!