Middlesbrough 0 Bristol City 0
IT was another frustrating afternoon for Boro, who were reduced to 10 men for the last half hour of the game, writes GORDON COX from the Riverside.
New signing Stephen McManus started the game on the bench, but there was a home debut for Barry Robson.
Robson for Julio Arca and Leroy Lita for Jonathan Franks were the two changes from the side that won at Doncaster on Tuesday.
Gary Johnson chose to make just one change from the side humiliated at home by Cardiff the same night, defender Lewin Nyatanga replacing striker Danny Haynes.
Nyatanga started on the left of a three-man defence, with Jamie McAllister pushing to the left of a five-man midfield.
It was the Boro, though, who made the brighter start, almost straight from the kick-off Lita racing to the heart of the City rearguard where progress was halted with a timely sliding challenge from Liam Fontaine.
Steve Bruce and Scotland manager Craig Levein were among those watching as Jamal Campbell-Ryce had the first shot of the game, a curling effort from the right-hand edge of the Boro box which Danny Coyne handled well.
Adam Johnson temporarily switched to the right to rid himself of his shadow, Bradley Orr, only to find the former Newcastle reserve defender peering over his shoulder.
Justin Hoyte set off on a quick run down the City left, but after outstripping his marker he ran out of room and into the snow that had been shovelled off the pitch by the groundstaff much earlier in the day.
A brilliant, mazy dribble from Willo Flood took him through the heart of the City side, past three and into the penalty area. But just as he was going to squeeze the trigger, City skipper Louis Carey threw himself into a blocking challenge.
Twice Lita was picked out in dangerous positions but the first ball hit him on the heel as he set off in the direction of where he thought it was going, then an inch-perfect crossfield ball of some 35 yards from Johnson picked him out inside the penalty area. Control on his chest was good, but he was squeezed out of room, as was Chris Killen who tried to help.
Robson had enjoyed a busy, largely productive first half, allowing Gary O'Neil licence to get forward, although twice the latter went for goal from outside the box he was wide of the mark.
Half-time: Middlesbrough 0 Bristol City 0
Boro started the second half well with Robson having a shot charged down on the edge of the penalty area and Killen twice getting into good positions but failing to convert.
The first occasion he was flagged offside but cleared the bar with a shot from inside the area anyway, before heading over when under pressure 10 yards out.
Johnson constantly probed away and caused problems, while a fine cross from Gary O'Neil forced the game's first corner. But life became more difficult for Boro when Robson, not long after being pulled to one side for a talking to from referee Colin Webster, tackled Nicky Maynard from behind.
In the opinion of the official it was a yellow card offence and Robson's home debut was brought to a premature end, as that was his second of the game. Boro fans, already riled with some decisions, bayed for blood, while O'Neil, as captain, questioned the decision.
Gordon Strachan didn't feel the need to react on the pitch by making a change until eight minutes later when he sent on Arca for Hoyte. Another change came a few minutes later when Lita made way for Franks, who took the field to an enthusiastic welcome from the fans.
With temperatures dropping, it was turning into a frustrating afternoon for Boro fans and distribution from their team became a little ragged.
With their first corner of the game - with 82 minutes played - City fashioned a chance and Coyne did well to smother a low drive from Jamal Campbell-Ryce.
In the first of four minutes of added time David Wheater peeled away from his marker to dive and head a right-wing corner, but, from 12 yards, just cleared the bar.
Boro, as they had for large parts of the game, dominated much of the possession in the closing stages, even with ten men, but they couldn't find the necessary quality in either final ball or finish.
Middlesbrough: Coyne; McMahon, Wheater, Grounds, Hoyte (Arca 64), Flood, O'Neil (Capt), Robson, Johnson, Lita (Franks 73), Killen. Unused subs: Steele (gk); Taylor, Bennett, McManus, L Williams.
Bristol City: Gerken; Orr, Fontaine, McAllister, Carey (Capt), Nyatanga (Sproule 85), Campbell-Ryce, Skuse (Elliott 46), Hartley, Maynard (Haynes 71), Agyemang. Unused subs: Henderson (gk); Sno, Clarkson, Saborio.
Referee: CH Webster. Tyne and Wear.
Sent-off: Robson, 56, two yellow cards. First on 31 minutes for a foul on Hartley, second on 56 minutes for a foul on Maynard.
Bookings
Middlesbrough: None
Bristol City: Nyatanga, 49, foul; Agyemang, 57, foul; Carey, 67, foul.
Attendance: 17,865 (590 Bristol City)
Conditions: Cold and clear with a gentle breeze.
Website Boro Man of the Match: Willo Flood did well before fading later in the game after putting in a shift, Tony McMahon and Jonathan Grounds deserve a mention but David Wheater gets the vote.
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