Middlesbrough 0 Crystal Palace 0

Feb 5 2012 by Matthew Leslie, Sunday Sun

BORO manager Tony Mowbray had spoken earlier this week about bolstering his squad via the loan window and his need was apparent at the Riverside yesterday.

Earlier this season when Boro had got off to a flying start, there was a nagging feeling that injuries would be their biggest obstacle to promotion, and so it is proving.

Barry Robson was ruled out of this one with a fractured finger and with fellow midfield men Nicky Bailey and Merouane Zemmama also out, Boro struggled to take a grip in the middle of the park.

Throw in Scott McDonald being out for two months and Marvin Emnes hobbling off five minutes into the second half, Mowbray had better borrow someone pronto lest the wall cave in on their bid to go up.

This draw ensures Boro have not won in the league since a 1-0 win over Hull on Boxing Day and, to be honest, were it not for a number of saves in the second half by Jason Steele, it could have been worse.

Palace’s midfield imposed themselves on Boro’s while Wilfred Zaha was giving Joe Bennett a harsh lesson as he tormented the young full-back.

Middlesbrough nearly had the opening goal gifted to them when Palace keeper Julian Speroni miscued his punch from Tony McMahon and he had Anthony Gardner to thank as his block stopped Lukas Jutkewicz’s header from finding the net.

Jutkewicz nearly struck again 10 minutes later as he fired wide when a pass to the unmarked Maluary Martin would have been the better option.

Palace’s Zaha was a topic of debate on transfer window deadline day and he showed why when a jinking run to the edge of the box saw him unleash a shot that just sneaked wide.

He had another chance soon after but shot straight at Boro keeper Steele.

The South London side were starting to find a groove and nearly took the lead in bizarre fashion.

Darren Ambrose’s cross from the right picked out Chris Martin at the backpost. The Palace man headed it across goal and Seb Hines could only blow a huge sigh of relief as his mistimed clearance spun over the bar.

Not long after, Boro went up the other end and Speroni had to be at his best as he beat away Maluary Martin’s 25-yard thunderbolt.

But Palace were seeing more of the ball much to the consternation of the home support and Chris Martin and Jermaine Easter will not want to see their misses again.