Boro get seventh home clean sheet in a row

Middlesbrough 0 Charlton 0

Middlesbrough set a new club record with a seventh straight Barclaycard Premiership clean sheet, but had to settle for a third straight home 0-0 draw against Charlton.

Massimo Maccarone came closest to breaking the deadlock in the first half when he forced Dean Kiely into a fine save with a superb left-foot volley and also hit a post when incorrectly adjudged offside, before a controversial clash with Danny Mills and Paolo di Canio.

Mills appeared to have stood on di Canio as the two tussled near the corner flag, the Italian emerging with blood streaming down his face which he showed to referee Howard Webb after play stopped 30 seconds later.

Charlton’s best effort was a superb volley from Graham Stuart which Mark Schwarzer acrobatically tipped over the bar, but neither side deserved to claim all three points from a poor encounter.

Boro’s only goal in their last four league games was an own goal from Manchester City’s Sun Jihai and manager Steve McClaren could well be brandishing his cheque book in the January transfer window.

McClaren was forced into three changes, Juninho failing a late fitness test on a hamstring injury to join veteran defender Colin Cooper (illness) on the sidelines, while fellow Brazilian Doriva was also kept out by an ankle problem.

Cooper’s place went to Chris Riggott with Ugo Ehiogu not ready for first team action on his comeback from a knee injury, while Szilard Nemeth and Maccarone were chosen to provide some much-needed firepower up front.

Charlton boss Alan Curbishley named the same side which was unlucky not to take a point against Southampton last week.

And the Addicks boss was able to bring back Jonatan Johansson and Chris Powell to the substitutes’ bench as the visitors looked to bounce back from consecutive league defeats.

Maccarone is often the cause of the fans’ frustration but he twice came closest to opening the scoring in a two-minute spell when the game finally came to life midway through the first half.

His initial cross eventually found Bolo Zenden on the byline and when he swung the ball into the box Maccarone hit a superb first-time volley with his left foot which had Kiely sprawling low to his left to save and palm it away from the incoming Nemeth.

The same two Boro players then combined superbly again moments later, Maccarone turning Zenden’s low cross onto the post although the linesman had already, and incorrectly, raised his flag for offside against the Italian.

The linesman’s flag was again up on 27 minutes as Maccarone attempted to turn provider for Nemeth, and although this time the decision was correct, the signs were at least more encouraging for the home side.

However the next incident was worthy of note for the wrong reasons, Mills lucky to escape unpunished when he appeared to stand on di Canio as the two tussled near the corner flag.

Di Canio was incensed but the referee was unmoved and from the free-kick on the edge of the area Mendieta’s shot was parried by Kiely and Queudrue’s follow-up was blocked by two Charlton defenders.

The first chance of a dreary second half eventually arrived after 20 minutes when Mendieta intercepted Kiely’s clearance and reached the byline before pulling the ball back for Zenden.

But the former Chelsea player attempted to sidefoot home and his left-foot shot lacked enough power to trouble a grateful Kiely.

Charlton immediately went down the other end and Graham Stuart saw his right-foot volley from the edge of the area superbly tipped over by Mark Schwarzer.

It was no surprise when Maccarone, whose every mistake was greeted with howls of despair, made way for Michael Ricketts with 20 minutes to go and he immediately provided a more direct threat, charging into the box but shooting straight at Kiely on the near post.

Stewart Downing, recalled from his successful loan spell at Sunderland, was also brought on but neither side deserved to claim a winner.