Match ends, Bournemouth 0, Middlesbrough 0.
Bournemouth 0-0 Middlesbrough
- From the section Championship
Bournemouth's three-match winning run ended as they drew a blank against fellow mid-table side Middlesbrough.
Cherries top scorer Lewis Grabban had a first-half effort disallowed for a foul on keeper Dimitrios Konstantopoulos.
Boro rarely threatened, but striker Lee Tomlin blazed over the bar when well placed just before the interval.
Konstantopoulos preserved a point for the visitors with second-half saves from Simon Francis and Andrew Surman as the hosts searched for a winner.
It was not to be for Eddie Howe's side - but they did record a fourth successive clean sheet.
The first half was devoid of many clear-cut chances but hinged on two decisions by referee Frederick Graham.
First, Boro captain Grant Leadbitter kicked out at Matt Ritchie after the ball had gone, following a clash near the touchline, but was only booked.
Then just before half-time, Konstantopoulos was robbed by Grabban, who rifled the ball into the net from an acute angle only to see the effort ruled out for a foul on the Greek.
Bournemouth stepped up a gear after the break, while Boro, whose last away win was against Blackpool in January, sacrificed Tomlin - who missed his side's best chance before the interval - for a fifth midfielder before the hour mark.
Ritchie thumped a cross-shot against the post and Konstantopoulos tipped over Francis's 25-yard drive before being called upon again to claw away Surman's measured effort from the edge of the box as Aitor Karanka's side held on for a hard-earned point.
Bournemouth manager Eddie Howe said:
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"We did everything we could to win that game. Middlesbrough were dogged opponents.
"It shows how far we've come this season that we are saying that we are disappointed only to draw with Middlesbrough.
"They showed us a lot of respect. We knew we would have to be at our best to break them down. We did not have that elusive chance."
Middlesbrough manager Aitor Karanka said:
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"At least we have a point. Bournemouth had more chances and played very well, so we have to be pleased.
"We need do more, we need to play better. The difference between us home and away is difficult for me to understand why.
"I would have like us to have rewarded the fans who travelled 300 miles to watch us with some goals."
Line-ups
Bournemouth
- 42Camp
- 2Francis
- 14Harte
- 32O'KaneBooked at 73mins
- 5Elphick
- 3S Cook
- 30RitchieSubstituted forPughat 68'minutes
- 8Arter
- 9Grabban
- 4SurmanSubstituted forRantieat 88'minutes
- 21CoulibalySubstituted forFraserat 58'minutes
Substitutes
- 1Allsop
- 7Pugh
- 10Pitman
- 15A Smith
- 16MacDonald
- 20Fraser
- 28Rantie
Middlesbrough
- 13Konstantopoulos
- 8Varga
- 3Friend
- 7LeadbitterBooked at 19minsSubstituted forLedesmaat 76'minutes
- 22Gibson
- 25OmeruoBooked at 90mins
- 27Adomah
- 18WhiteheadBooked at 41mins
- 9Graham
- 10TomlinSubstituted forChalobahat 58'minutes
- 19CarayolSubstituted forMainat 90+3'minutes
Substitutes
- 1Steele
- 6Butterfield
- 11Ledesma
- 14Williams
- 23Main
- 24Chalobah
- 36Atkinson
- Referee:
- Fred Graham
- Attendance:
- 9,710
Match Stats
Home TeamBournemouthAway TeamMiddlesbrough
- Possession
- Home64%
- Away36%
- Shots
- Home17
- Away5
- Shots on Target
- Home3
- Away1
- Corners
- Home10
- Away4
- Fouls
- Home13
- Away13
Live Text
Full Time
Second Half ends, Bournemouth 0, Middlesbrough 0.
Corner, Bournemouth. Conceded by Kenneth Omeruo.
Corner, Bournemouth. Conceded by Kenneth Omeruo.
Booking
Kenneth Omeruo (Middlesbrough) is shown the yellow card.
Kenneth Omeruo (Middlesbrough) has gone down, but that's a dive.
Lewis Grabban (Bournemouth) wins a free kick in the attacking half.
Foul by Nathaniel Chalobah (Middlesbrough).
Harry Arter (Bournemouth) wins a free kick in the attacking half.
Foul by Emmanuel Jorge Ledesma (Middlesbrough).
Substitution
Substitution, Middlesbrough. Curtis Main replaces Mustapha Carayol.
Delay over. They are ready to continue.
Delay in match Mustapha Carayol (Middlesbrough) because of an injury.
Substitution
Substitution, Bournemouth. Tokelo Rantie replaces Andrew Surman.
Attempt missed. Tommy Elphick (Bournemouth) header from the centre of the box misses to the left. Assisted by Ian Harte with a cross following a corner.
Corner, Bournemouth. Conceded by Dimitrios Konstantopoulos.
Attempt saved. Andrew Surman (Bournemouth) left footed shot from outside the box is saved in the top left corner.
Lee Camp (Bournemouth) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
Foul by Danny Graham (Middlesbrough).
Foul by Lewis Grabban (Bournemouth).
Kenneth Omeruo (Middlesbrough) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
Attempt missed. Eunan O'Kane (Bournemouth) left footed shot from the centre of the box is too high. Assisted by Marc Pugh.
Attempt blocked. Lewis Grabban (Bournemouth) right footed shot from a difficult angle on the left is blocked.
Attempt missed. Tommy Elphick (Bournemouth) header from the centre of the box misses to the right. Assisted by Steve Cook.
Corner, Bournemouth. Conceded by Dimitrios Konstantopoulos.
Attempt saved. Simon Francis (Bournemouth) right footed shot from outside the box is saved in the top left corner. Assisted by Ryan Fraser.
Attempt missed. Andrew Surman (Bournemouth) header from the centre of the box misses to the right. Assisted by Marc Pugh with a cross.
Substitution
Substitution, Middlesbrough. Emmanuel Jorge Ledesma replaces Grant Leadbitter.
Attempt blocked. Lewis Grabban (Bournemouth) right footed shot from the left side of the box is blocked. Assisted by Marc Pugh.
Attempt saved. Danny Graham (Middlesbrough) left footed shot from outside the box is saved in the bottom right corner. Assisted by Grant Leadbitter.
Booking
Eunan O'Kane (Bournemouth) is shown the yellow card.
Eunan O'Kane (Bournemouth) has gone down, but that's a dive.
Substitution
Substitution, Bournemouth. Marc Pugh replaces Matt Ritchie.
Corner, Middlesbrough. Conceded by Steve Cook.
Harry Arter (Bournemouth) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
Foul by Dean Whitehead (Middlesbrough).
Foul by Lewis Grabban (Bournemouth).
Ben Gibson (Middlesbrough) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
Offside, Middlesbrough. George Friend tries a through ball, but Albert Adomah is caught offside.
Foul by Tommy Elphick (Bournemouth).