Boro Miss Chance To Go Top With Birmingham Draw

Middlesbrough    0        Birmingham    0

Middlesbrough striker David Nugent was sent off as his side were held to a frustrating goalless draw at home to Birmingham.

Boro finished the game with 70 per cent possession after 20 attempts on goal, but couldn’t find a winner which would have put them top of the table.

Players battle in the pouring rain at the Riverside
(Picture from c.files.bbci.co.uk)

Despite the host’s first half dominance, it was Gary Rowatt’s Blues who could have left  the Riverside with all three points.

The visitors created the better chances after the interval but couldn’t find a way past keeper Dimi Konstantopulos.

In the end Boro’s frustration boiled over on a day where the persistent rain disrupted and stalled a game between two top eight sides.

Nugent’s dismissal came deep into injury time when he reacted to some Birmingham time wasting by grabbing opponent Stephen Gleeson and pushing him to the ground. His stupidity means that the Boro forward will now serve a three game ban and miss crucial games against Burnley, Brighton and Blackburn.

"I'm disappointed because it's difficult playing at home always trying to win games, against sides that are wasting time” said Karanka after the game.

"So you can understand his (Nugent's) frustration, but you have to learn not to do that. He knows he's made a mistake but it's up to the other players on Tuesday to make up for this”.

Boro may have seen more of the ball, but Birmingham keeper Tomasz Kuszczak was rarely tested. After a quiet first half, it was Konstantopulos who ensured his side came away with a point after denying Demarai Gray before Michael Morrison headed wide late on .

"Overall on the balance of play, we knew Boro would have more possession, with the way we play most teams will do that, but we limited them and our chances were the better ones” said Rowett.

"The conditions made the game difficult, but that's as good an away performance as we've had all we've had all season and that's saying a lot with the way we've played away this season”.

The visitors arrived on Teesside after three straight defeats in the league and were looking to bounce back from last weekend’s home defeat to Huddersfield.

For the fourth game in a row they had to cope without top scorer Clayton Donaldson and once again appeared a little light upfront. Even so in Rowatt was the first to complement his side who were “strong defensively” and are only the third team to take points off Boro at the Riverside this season.

Karanka named an unchanged side from the one which beat Ipswich last weekend and his side were quick out of the traps in tricky conditions.

Adam Clayton scored his first goal for the club against Huddersfield a couple of weeks ago and nearly registered his second, when his shot from the edge of the area looped over Kuszczak who recovered to tip the ball over the bar.

Boro came close again eight minutes later when captain Grant Leadbitter curled a low shot onto post. The ball then quickly came to a standstill on the soaking pitch and Kuszczak was able to gather it with ease.

The visitor’s best effort came when Gleeson fizzed a shot wide of post. But overall the first half belonged to Boro, who passed the ball well at times, but were hindered by the wet pitch which slowed them down in the wide areas.

Birmingham came out swinging after the break and posed a greater threat on the counter attack through the presence of Gray.   

Mid-way through the second half Konstantopuols had to tip an effort from Jacques Maghoma over the bar before Ayala performed a crucial block to prevent substitute David Davis.

At the other end Boro continued to create openings but failed to give Kuszczak real examination and were guilty of overplaying in the final third.

The Birmingham keeper saved comfortably when headers from Ayala and Christian Stuani were directed straight at him.

Moments later Downing cannoned an effort towards goal from inside the box but it was blocked for away for a corner. Leadbitter also came close but his powerful free kick whistled wide of the post.

In the final 20 minutes the game opened up emphatically and both sides had chances to nick a winner. Gray’s burst down the left brought him into the Boro box where Konstantopulos beat away his shot with a strong right arm.

At the other end Stuani missed a glorious chance from close range before Morrison headed wide from a Birmingham corner.

Nugent’s red card summed up a wet and miserable day on Teesside where the football suffered as a consequence.

Player Ratings      

Dimi Konstantopulos   7- Made some vital saves when Boro could easily have lost late on

Emilio Nsue   7- Another competent performance, good defensively and added outlet going forward

Ben Gibson   7- Made some important tackles and blocks when Birmingham broke on the counter attack

Daniel Ayala   7- Tried to get forward more and come out with the ball as Boro pushed for a winner

George Friend   7- Never stopped trying and was as committed as ever on the left side

Adam Clayton   7- Drove the team forward and almost scored early on

Grant Leadbitter   6.5- Looked comfortable in the first half lost control of the game as it opened up

Albert Adomah   6.5- Saw a lot of the ball and made some good runs down the left

Stewart Downing 6.5- Received the ball in some good areas through the middle, came closest to scoring out of anyone  

Christian Stuani   5- Pasted up a good opportunity and gave the ball away too often

David Nugent   4- Stupidly got himself sent off and will miss next three games

Subs

Adam Forshaw – Came on with 12 minutes to go unfair to give a fair rating

Diego Fabbrini – Came on with three minutes to go unfair to give a fair rating

My Boro Man Of The Match: Adam Clayton