Middlesbrough dominated proceedings against Huddersfield Town but were unable to get on the scoresheet as the first half at the Riverside Stadium finished goalless.
The hosts caused trouble as early as the sixth minute, when Kike marauded forward into the Terriers final third before letting rip with a powerful shot that cannoned off the post.
Just four minutes later, Patrick Bamford also came within a whisker of opening the scoring as he fired narrowly wide from an acute angle.
The 21-year-old Chelsea loanee continued to cause the visitors problems throughout the first half, seeing a shot deflected out for a corner before heading wide from close range.
Several strong challenges saw play stopped on a number of occasions, as Adam Clayton and Jonathan Hogg had to be given treatment on the pitch, while James Vaughan was substituted after a foul by Tomas Kalas.
The first half ended with neither team breaking the deadlock, although Boro finished the stronger of the two as Clayton volleyed over from outside the box and Kalas also came close just before the break.
Giuseppe Labellarte
