Boro regain some pride with draw at Leicester

Leicester 0 Middlesbrough 0

Spanish midfielder Gaizka Mendieta received international clearance in time for him to make his Middlesbrough debut as Boro manager Steve McClaren rang the changes. In addition to Mendieta, the fit again Jonathan Greening and Joseph Job plus Andrew Davies came into the side

Leicester manager Micky Adams made just one change from the side beaten at Chelsea with Keith Gillespie replacing Andrew Impey on the right side of midfield.

Mendieta was soon in the thick of the action, running onto a through ball from Jonathan Greening but Alan Rogers nipped in to shepherd the ball back to Foxes ’keeper Ian Walker.

It needed a fine save from Schwarzer to prevent Leicester from taking the lead after 13 minutes after Dickov and James Scowcroft had created the opening for Muzzy Izzet. Acting captain Izzet put plenty of power into his dipping volley but Schwarzer deflected the shot over the bar.

Mendieta was making a promising start to his Boro career and a swerving shot from the edge of the area was only inches too high.

Walker held onto a low drive from Mendieta while at the other end Scowcroft was only just too high with a header from a left-wing Izzet centre.

Boro manager Steve McClaren opted for a half-time substitution, bringing on Robbie Stockdale in place of Colin Cooper and switching Parnaby to left-back.

John Curtis got forward well for the Foxes down the right flank before laying the ball in to the feet of Dickov but his mis-directed pass ended a promising move.

City were moving the ball around quite neatly but were finding it hard to break down the Boro rearguard.

Leicester were now dominating proceedings. A low centre from Keith Gillespie only just eluded three players and a Scowcroft header was deflected over the bar in a challenge with Davies.

Scimeca, who had been sent off at Chelsea on Saturday, was cautioned for a clumsy challenge on Mendieta after 57 minutes.

Mendieta nearly stole the lead against the run of play for Boro with a dipping volley which was barely a foot too high.

Juninho had one of his quieter games, although he had Walker scrambling across his line to save a low effort at the foot of a post.

Schwarzer dealt comfortably with a low drive from the impressive Izzet, while substitute Brian Deane snatched at a half chance and screwed his shot past the post.

Dickov almost found a way through when his close-range shot was blocked by Schwazer after a low cross from Izzet had caused problems.

LEICESTER: Walker, Curtis, Howey, Thatcher, Rogers, Izzet, Nalis, Scimeca, Gillespie, Scowcroft, Dickov.

MIDDLESBROUGH: Schwarzer, Parnaby, Southgate, Cooper, Davies, Mendieta, Boateng, Juninho Paulista, Greening, Job, Nemeth.