Full-time: Charlton Athletic 0 Middlesbrough 0

MIDDLESBROUGH were unable to make it four Championship wins in succession as they were held to a goalless draw at Charlton.

Despite dominating for the majority of the game, Boro were unable to break down a resolute Addicks defence and never really forced Charlton goalkeeper Stephen Henderson into a meaningful save.

The Teessiders were forced to play the final eight minutes with ten men after Albert Adomah was dismissed for two bookings, but should perhaps have been playing against ten themselves after Andre Bikey escaped censure for what looked like an elbow on Patrick Bamford.

Charlton hit the post through Frederic Bulot as they staged a late rally, but a point was the least Boro deserved for what was, on the whole, another bright display.

Aitor Karanka made three changes to the Middlesbrough side that narrowly failed to pull off a Capital One Cup upset at Anfield on Tuesday night, with Dimi Konstantopoulos, Emilio Nsue and Bamford coming in for Jamal Blackman, Ryan Fredericks and Grant Leadbitter.

Leadbitter’s demotion to the substitutes’ bench was a surprise, as was Karanka’s decision to name Kike, Bamford and Lee Tomlin in what was an extremely attacking starting line-up for an away game.

With Adam Reach also looking to get forward at every opportunity, Boro were much the better side in the opening period, but despite dominating possession before they break, they failed to ask too many questions of Henderson in the Charlton goal.

Adomah should have forced Henderson into a save in the ninth minute, but after slick interplay involving Tomlin and Bamford resulted in him receiving possession on the right-hand side of the area, he could only slash a first-time shot into the side netting.

Adomah finally tested Henderson for the first time in the 20th minute, but the Addicks goalkeeper got down well to make a routine save from a low 25-yard shot.

The Teessiders’ first-half pressure brought a succession of corners, but while Adam Clayton’s delivery asked questions of the Charlton defence, former Boro defender Bikey used his muscular strength to win a number of headers.

George Friend headed Clayton’s 26th-minute corner wide under pressure at the back post, before Daniel Ayala also failed to find the target with a header of his own.

Bamford curled narrowly over the crossbar from 25 yards shortly before the interval, and the first half ended with Kike turning adroitly in the area before hooking a difficult half-volley over the top.

Charlton’s willingness to drop deep and defend in numbers on the edge of their 18-yard box continued in the second half, and meant Boro’s attacking was often frustrated in the final third.

There was a brief moment of optimism when Henderson flapped and failed to claim a corner, but in a packed box, the ball rebounded to safety off the back of Friend’s head.

Things might have been different, however, had Bikey seen red for what appeared to be a 72nd-minute elbow on Bamford.

With Bamford threatening to break clear, Bikey looked to angle an elbow into his opponent, but neither the referee nor his assistant spotted the incident.

Charlton offered very little going forward, but they were increasingly dominant in possession in the second half, and Karanka brought on Grant Leadbitter for Kike in an attempt to shore up the Boro midfield.

However, it was Charlton who went closest to claiming a winner, hitting the woodwork with 12 minutes left.

Rhoys Wiggins crossed from the left, and after twisting his body in the area, Bulot hooked a volley against the base of the right-hand post.

Boro were under the cosh in the closing stages, and their task became harder when Adomah was dismissed for a second booking with eight minutes left. Having already been booked, the winger was dismissed after mistiming a challenge on Wiggins.

Dimi Konstantopoulos hadn’t had a save to make all afternoon, but he was finally called into action in the final minute – and the Greek shot-stopper responded superbly.

Lawrie Wilson found himself in space on the right-hand side of the area, but Konstantopoulos kept out the substitute’s shot with his legs.

From the resultant corner, George Tucudean angled in a header at the back post, but Clayton was alert to clear the ball off the line.

Charlton (4-4-2): Henderson; Solly, Bikey-Amougou, Ben Haim, Wiggins; Gudmundsson (Moussa 46), Buyens, Jackson (Tucudean 69), Cousins; Bulot (Wilson 84), Vetokele.

Subs (not used): Pope (gk), Morrison, Fox, Ahearne-Grant.

Middlesbrough (4-4-2): Konstantopoulos; Nsue, Omeruo (Gibson 70), Ayala, Friend; Adomah, Clayton, Tomlin (Wildschut 87), Reach; Bamford, Kike (Leadbitter 76).

Subs (not used): Blackman (gk), Fredericks, Gibson, Husband, Leadbitter, Ledesma.