Charlton Athletic and Middlesbrough shared the spoils in an uneventful goalless draw at The Valley this afternoon.
The visitors carved out the first meaningful attack of the match in the ninth minute when Albert Adomah exchanged passes with Patrick Bamford before rifling a shot into the side-netting.
Boro were the better side going forward in the first period, and they threatened again through Adomah in the 20th minute as the Ghana international let fly from 25 yards, directing his effort straight at Charlton goalkeeper Stephen Henderson.
Charlton's best chance of the first half came following a free kick, which would have found the head of Andre Bikey in the area had George Friend not been on hand to produce a vital interception.
Bamford almost drew first blood for the visitors with a wickedly deflected strike 10 minutes before the break, but Boro were unable to turn their dominance into a lead before the referee brought the first half to a close.
The second half was a dismal affair where both sides struggled to create anything in front of goal, but Charlton looked more solid than they did before the interval, and came close to snatching maximum points late on.
Igor Vetokele and Rhoys Wiggins combined to carve out a chance for Frederic Bulot in the closing stages, but the striker's effort came back off the inside of the post.
The match ended on a sour note for the visitors as Adomah was sent off at the death for a second bookable offence, a decision that left Boro boss Aitor Karanka seething at the final whistle.
Mark Langshaw
