Match report: Bournemouth 0 Boro 0

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Normal service was resumed with a blank at both ends as Boro fought out a goalless draw at Bournemouth.

For Boro it was the eleventh clean sheet in 14 games while the Cherries collected a second tier clean sheet record with four on the bounce.

The home side had the better of the play and the chances with Dimi Konstantopoulos forced into two good saves and the Boro defence working hard to contain a lively looking home side.

Albert Adomah came in for Emmanuel Ledesma on the right and Dean Whitehead replaced Nathaniel Chalobah in a holding midfield role.

Boro took to the field in an all white third strip, although it was hard to see how the light blue away kit would clash with Bournemouth's red and black.

Boro had the first chance within the opening minute as Cherries defender Elphick played a slack pass that was cut out by Danny Graham who slammed a first time 25 yard shot a foot over.

Then on four minutes a neat ball from George Friend sent Lee Tomlin down the inside left channel and into the box but when he squared for Graham alert defender Elphick cut out the danger.

Bournemouth responded with two good raids down the right but first Kenneth Omeruo then Ben Gibson headed away dangerous Coulibaly crosses into the box.

Boro had a spell of pressure as first a free-kick was cleared then a Grant Leadbitter inswinging corner on 10 minutes was fumbled by the keeper before he recovered to gather at the second attempt as Graham closed in.

Then Bournemouth pressed with a couple of corners and from one on 13 minutes – that looked to have been a goal-kick – Harte whipped in the ball for Grabban who chested down but Ormeruo was quick to clear the danger.

There was a flashpoint on 19 minutes as Ritchie fouled Leadbitter on the left flank and then hauled him down.

As Friend raced clear with the loose ball Leadbitter appeared to kick out at the Cherries man as they both got up and with the home fans screaming for a red, the referee produced a yellow after consulting the linesman.

Bournemouth went close from the resulting free-kick as Harte crossed in and Friend's attempted clearing header squirted backwards and onto the roof of the net.

After a good patient build-up Boro threatened on 27 minutes as Friend sent Tomlin forward and when he squared to Carayol his low 20 yard shot was deflected behind.

The corner produced a spell of head tennis in the box before keeper Camp plucked it to safety.

Then on the half-hour Leadbitter curled a free-kick to the far post where it was headed clear.

Bournemouth threatened on 34 minutes as Coulibaly pushed a ball from the left into the box for Grabban but Omerou quickly shackled him and guided him away.

Then on 37 minutes Ritchie got past Friend down the right to reach the byline but his cross to the near post was headed clear by Gibson.

From the corner the ball was nodded down to Surman in the box but as he shaped to shoot Leadbitter arrived with thundering block.

Boro had a let off on 40 minutes as Konstantopoulos came sliding out to the right of the box collect a loose ball and as he gathered Grabban kicked and dug it out from under him then slotted home but the whistle had already gone.

Whitehead was booked on 40 minutes for a foul on Arter.

Boro went close on 42 minutes as Carayol found Tomlin who flashed a first time shot just over from the edge of the box.

Then the home side responded on the stroke of half-time as Ritchie touched a ball on for Grabban to get to the edge of the box and fire over.

HALF-TIME: BOURNEMOUTH 0 BORO 0

Boro won a free-kick on the right within a minute of the restart but Carayol couldn't control Leadbitter ball into the crowd and it was scrambled away.

Then they pressed again as Graham hassled and robbed Ritche then sent Carayol down the left but he was shrugged off the ball by Francis.

Bournemouth threatened on 50 minutes as a half-cleared corner was whipped back in from the right for Grabban 10 yards out but he was impeded by a team-mate and his header looped into the arms of Konstantopoulos.

And a minute later the Cherries threatened again as a Coulibably cut in from the left and squared for Surman but his low shot was deflected behind off the shins of Omeruo.

On 57 minutes Nathaniel Chalobah came on for Tomlin and slotted into the holding duo with Leadbitter pushing forward,

Bournemouth put on Fraser for Coulibaly at the same time.

The home won a free-kick on 59 minutes and when Harte dipped it to the far post Gibson headed away before Grabban could connect then a corner was scrambled away.

Boro broke out on 62 minutes as Adomah zipped down the left and crossed to the near post where Francis cleared.

And two minutes later Adomah again broke down the flank then sent Friend over-lapping but his angled effort was turned behind for a corner which caused a scramble before being hooked clear.

On 67 the home side put on Pugh for Ritchie

Bournemouth enjoyed a good long spell of possession in the Boro half but the defence worked hard to close down and keep them at bay.

There was a scare on 72 minutes as O'Kane skipped into the box and took a tumble under a tackle from Gibson but with home fans screaming for a penalty the ref booked the midfielder for diving.

There was another scare a minute later as cross into the box from the right was deflected into the path of unmarked Pugh 12 yards out but as he shaped to shoot Gibson came sliding in to make a crucial tackle.

On 76 minutes Ledesma came on for Leadbitter.

Bournemouth went close on 77 minutes as Francis cut in from the right to rifle in an angled effort that sent Konstantopoulos diving to tip over.

Boro were forced into some frenzied defending as they worked hard and in packs to mug the home attack.

Bournemouth almost broke through on 86 minutes as Surman tricked in from the righ and to the edge of the box to drill toward the far top corner but Konstantopoulos did well to dive and tip it behind.

On 88 minutes the home side put on Rantie for Surman.

In the final minute there was a hold up after Carayol tangled with Harte and went flying and landed heavily with the home player immediately stopping play to summon medics.

Curtis Main came on for Carayol after the flanker was stretchered off with a heavily strapped left leg.

BORO (4231): Konstantopoulos; Varga, Gibson, Omeruo, Friend; Leadbitter (Ledesma 76), Whitehead; Adomah, Tomlin (Chalobah 57), Carayol (Main 90); Graham. Subs: Steele, Ledesma, Butterfield, L Williams, Atkinson.

BOURNEMOUTH (4141): Camp, Francis, Cook, Elphick, Harte, Ritchie (Pugh 67), Arter, O'Kane, Surman (Rantie 88), Coulibaly (Fraser 57), Grabban. Subs: Allsop, Smith, MacDonald, Pitman.

Ref: Fred Graham (Essex)

Att: 9710 (1187)