Town were unlucky not to get their first away win of the season as first Pablo Counago and then Hermann Hreidarsson both hit the post. The game had swung both ways and was one of the more exciting 0-0 draws that you'll see.

New signing Marcus Bent lined-up alongside Alun Armstrong in the attack. Surprisingly, after his good performance on Thursday, Pablo Counago dropped to the bench. Elsewhere it was the same side which beat Inter Milan three days ago.

Middlesbrough had the first opportunity of the game in the first minute after Titus Bramble had fouled Nemeth. Marinelli hit the freekick well over.

In the third minute Boksic turned his defender well before trying to cross, but the ball deflected to Sereni. Boro were starting strongly and a minute later Venus headed a Greening cross over the bar. From the corner Boksic hit a shot wide.

On 6 new man Marcus Bent crossed well from the right, but it was too strong for Clapham who was running in from the left. The ex-Spurs man got his head to it but couldn't direct it goalwards. Four minutes later Bent had his first shot in a Town shirt from a neat Peralta ball through.

In the 14th minute Clapham crossed from the right, Armstrong headed down and Jermaine Wright hit a shot against a defender for a corner. It was Town's best move so far and Wright's shot looked to be goal-bound until the defender's intervention.

It was Jamie Clapham who was to have Town's next shot, three minutes later. Titus Bramble brought the ball forward, as he often did, and played the ball to Clapham at the edge of the area. Clapham turned a hit a snapshot but the ball went wide.

On 18 Clapham crossed into the box but Ehiogu headed the ball back to his keeper.

The home crowd were calling for a penalty in the 20th minute as Bramble tackled Boksic inside the area on the right of the Town goal. Bramble had won the ball cleanly and there were few claims on the pitch.

There were penalty claims at the other end two minutes later when first Jamie Clapham and then Alun Armstrong both looked to have been impeded as crosses came in. The first form the right came in from Jermaine Wright and the second from Hreidarsson from the left. Armstrong had a quiet word as Town prepared for the subsequent corner. From this Hreidarsson got up high and headed over with Boro keeper Crossley flapping.

A Jamie Clapham cross flashed across the area in front of Town strikers on 30 as Town got on top. At the other end, though Boksic found space on the left but allowed the ball to run away from him and out of play.

Three minutes later there was more penalty controversy as Bent appeared to be pulled down by Southgate. From the Town end it looked a clear penalty, but referee Pugh saw no foul.

In the 37th minute Nemeth headed a Marinelli cross wide as Boro came more into it again. Within a minute Bramble did well to get in before Nemeth and head the ball back to the keeper.

On 40 Boksic was almost in as Makin lost control of the ball deep inside the Town area. Boksic rode a Bramble tackle, but the Yugoslav took the ball too far and out for a goalkick.

Three minutes later Town were awarded a rare freekick when Marinelli flew into Clapham recklessly. Venus took the freekick and hit a shot which appeared to hit Peralta as it went behind. Referee Pugh gave a corner.

On the stroke of half-time Marcus Bent was injured as he tried to clear a corner. Marinelli put a cross back in and Ehiogu headed over. After a few minutes treatment Bent got back into action.

The first action of the second half saw Clapham put in a cross after a one-two with Hreidarsson. Boro's defence cleared.

On 50 Peralta hit a shot into the side-netting as he ran in from the right and met a Jermaine Wright ball across.

Greening a hit a shot well over a couple of minutes later after Marinelli had made a strong run. The play moved to the other end and Alun Armstrong was fouled on the edge of the area by Queudrue. Clapham took the freekick and curled it towards the top right-hand corner of Crossley's goal. The ex-Forest keeper got across well and tipped over.

In the 54th minute Matteo Sereni twice saved well, first from Marinelli from inside the area on the left, and then from Boksic eight yards out. The second was probably the better of the saves, diving to his left and blocking well.

Hermann Hreidarsson, who was taking every opportunity to get forward, ran in on the area from the left and hit a strong low ball across the box and the Boro defence cleared.

In the 62nd minute Sereni beat Boksic to the ball as Boro got in the ascendant. Former Boro man Armstrong went off to boos in contrast to last year when he was very well received by his old supporters. On came Pablo Counago.

Matt Holland might have had a shot shortly afterwards as the ball was cleared to him on the edge of the area. The Town skipper failed to control and the chance was gone.

Jermaine Wright, having a good game in midfield, crossed from the right and Ehiogu headed away with Counago lurking.

On 66 Naylor replaced Marcus Bent. The new striker had shown moments of promise and held the ball up well on a number of occasions as well as showing he was willing to shoot.

Venus dispossessed Marinelli on 68 and brought the ball forward. Venus himself was dispossessed before Greening hit a shot at Sereni.

Jamie Clapham and Richard Naylor both had shots charged down a minute later as Town put on a bit of pressure. Sixto Peralta was in on goal shortly afterwards as Naylor made a delicate pass over the defence. The Argentinian couldn't get the ball under control and Crossley smothered.

Town came even closer to scoring on 73 when Counago was played in by Naylor. The Spaniard drew the keeper, set himself well and hit a shot which appeared to be going in only to come off the post. The rebound almost fell for the ex-Celta Vigo player, but the defence just cleared. It was very bad luck for Pablo who has still to register a goal for Town.

Two minutes later Tommy Miller came on for Sixto Peralta. Miller was making his first Premiership appearance, after already coming on in the UEFA Cup and starting in the Worthington Cup.

Boksic again came close on 78 when Venus and Bramble had trouble dealing with a long ball. Eventually the Yugoslav put the ball out of play.

With five minutes left it was Hreidarsson's turn to hit a post. The Icelander got on the end of a Jermaine Wright corner when unmarked at the back of the box. The ball bounced off the post and over the bar for a lucky escape for the home side.

Two minutes later Jermaine Wright hit a volley across the box which Richard Naylor almost got on the end of.

As the seconds ticked away Bramble just got his head to a Venus corner before Naylor put a Jermaine Wright cross over when he should have done better.

And that was it for chances. Town did enough to win and largely snuffed out the Boro threat. A point is probably not what George Burley would have hoped for, although an away draw is by no means a bad result. The performance was certainly nearer to the better recent displays than some of the dismal ones of earlier in the season. If Town continue in this vein the points will start to come.

Photo: Action Images

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