Middlesbrough have been held to a 0-0 draw at home to Birmingham City, who will be delighted with a point having withstood constant pressure throughout the 90 minutes at the Riverside Stadium.
Middlesbrough went into the match having won six of their last seven matches in the Championship, and they should have taken an early lead as they pushed Birmingham back into their own third.
Adam Clayton had a shot saved by Tomasz Kuszczak, before just before the quarter-hour mark, Grant Leadbitter struck the inside of the post before the ball rebounded clear.
Top goalscorer Christian Stuani was the next to test Kuszczak without any success, before Albert Adomah and David Nugent wasted chances as Birmingham made it to the break on level terms.
The Blues improved during the early stages of the second half, but Boro were soon back on the offensive, with Leadbitter seeing a shot kept out by Kuszczak before sending a free kick wide of the target.
Moments later, Stuani failed to convert from close range as he sent his attempt over the bar, before Birmingham threatened at the other end, with Dimi Konstantopoulos keeping out Jacques Maghoma.
It did not take long for Middlesbrough to respond, with Jonathan Grounds firing over and Stuani continuing to find Kuszczak in inspired form between the sticks.
Demarai Gray could have won it for Birmingham late on, but after the winger was denied by Konstantopoulos, Birmingham successfully held on to a hard-earned point after Nugent was sent off for an off-the-ball incident in the final minute.
Darren Plant
