Middlesbrough 0-0 Bristol City
Adam Baker reports from the Riverside

City bounced back from their 6-0 Cardiff disappointment with a battling and deserved point from a goalless draw against ten-man Middlesbrough.

Barry Robson's second-half dismissal for the home side never really affected the game like it might have. Both sides created a few half chances but never really tested the opposition keeper like they would have hoped.

For City though, there were important positives to take from the game; a committed display - with some superb last-ditch defending - and a clean sheet.

Gary Johnson resisted the temptation to make wholesale changes following the 6-0 drubbing by Cardiff at Ashton Gate just days earlier. Instead the City boss switched the formation to 3-5-2 and recalled Lewin Nyatanga in place of Danny Haynes.

City almost suffered a disastrous start as Paul Hartley's wayward pass presented Leroy Lita with an opportunity straight from the kick-off. Fortunately for City and the ex-Celtic midfielder, Liam Fontaine provided a superb sliding tackle to end Lita's goal-bound dash.

City's Nicky Maynard goes all acrobatic at the Riverside

Gary O'Neil fired wide from distance, whilst Danny Coyne comfortably held long-range attempts from Jamal Campbell-Ryce and Jamie McAllister at the other end.

Chris Killen and David Wheater both missed the target from good positions for the hosts, and then a storming run from Willo Flood almost saw Boro break the deadlock. Nutmegging Hartley and skipping beyond Nyatanga, Flood looked destined to end his burst forward with the opening goal but didn't bargain for Louis Carey's brilliant last-ditch sliding challenge.

Two more misses from O'Neil followed before the half was out, and Lita warmed the gloves of Dean Gerken from an acute angle.

Cole Skuse, who had picked up a knock in the first half, was replaced at the break by Marvin Elliott.

Jamal Campbell-Ryce fires a volleyed attempt towards goal

Just a minute after the restart Campbell-Ryce teed up Hartley on the edge of the box and he laced a shot just wide of Coyne's right-hand upright.

Campbell-Ryce gifted the ball to Johnson on 53 minutes and almost paid the price as the winger went on a mazy run and sent a shot inches wide of the post.

Boro were reduced to ten men on 57 minutes when Robson - cautioned earlier in the game for a late tackle - was shown a red card for a second bookable offence clipping Maynard on his charge forwards.

Boro actually perked up after going down to ten men and Killen wasted two good opportunities from close range. His first attempt went over the top, although he was flagged offside to save his blushes, and then with a header from six yards out he nodded over the top.

Jamie McAllister tries to wrestle past Boro's Gary O'Neil

A cheeky effort from 35 yards by Campbell-Ryce almost caught Coyne straying from his line but the stopper scrambled back to clutch the ball from beneath his crossbar.

Danny Haynes came on to replace Maynard with 19 minutes left and City began to break forward more with time ticking away.

Elliott headed a Hartley free kick into the keeper's arms and then from a half-cleared corner kick, Campbell-Ryce volleyed powerfully straight at Coyne.

In stoppage time Wheater lost his marker Carey from a corner and wasted a glorious chance to snatch the win as he headed over the top.

But City deserved their point for a game full of endeavour, and survived another late scare when Killen fired over from inside the box with the last kick of the game.