Premiership: Boro held to a draw

Middlesbrough 0 Charlton 0

Middlesbrough missed a chance to drag themselves further clear of the Premiership relegation zone as they were held to a goalless draw by Charlton.

Boro battled all the way but could not create the chances to see off a determined Charlton.

Even in-form striker Noel Whelan failed to come up with the goods when presented with an 89th-minute free header from Phil Stamp's cross and Gareth Southgate earlier missed a good opportunity at the back post.

The Teessiders only really made Addicks keeper Dean Kiely work once when Franck Queudrue whistled in a free-kick in first-half injury time.

Mark Crossley was equally under-employed, keeping out a Chris Bart-Williams strike from distance and looking on as Chris Powell wasted good approach work from Scott Parker and Jason Euell.

Charlton threatened to claim the opening goal as Bart-Williams and midfield dynamo Scott Parker assumed control.

Phil Stamp did well to put off Powell from Graham Stuart's 66th-minute cross and then Powell squandered a golden opportunity after Parker and Jason Euell unlocked the Boro defence.

But the home side had their best chance of the game 15 minutes from time when Southgate arrived at the far post to meet Carlos Marinelli's free-kick, but after seeing the ball late as it travelled over Euell's head, put his effort wide of the post.

Kevin Lisbie went close 10 minutes from time when he cut in off the left wing and fired a right-foot shot into Crossley's arms.

But it was Boro who could have snatched it at the death when Stamp got free on the right and sent a teasing cross to the far post for the unmarked Whelan, but his header lacked both the power and the direction to cause Kiely any genuine concern.