Middlesbrough 0 Doncaster 0: Dogged Rovers leave hosts Boro frustrated over play-off chances

Having travelled up on a new coach in search of an end-of-season change of direction, Dean Saunders’s side then ‘parked the bus’ at the Riverside, keeping a first clean sheet in 16 games, an achievement which prompted the 200-strong travelling support to give them a standing ovation at the final whistle.

The result dealt a blow to Boro’s play-off hopes as they sit four points adrift of the top six. Boro spent long spells of the game in command, but a combination of stubborn defending by Rovers and poor finishing proved costly.

Striker Scott McDonald spurned easily the best opportunity when heading wide from close range early in the second half.

Rovers goalkeeper Gary Woods also saved brilliantly at the near post from Lukas Jutkiewicz deep into stoppage time.

A four-season stay in the Championship has been a golden era in Rovers’ history.

However, the final three fixtures of an ill-fated campaign are likely to underline what they will be missing next season.

Middlesbrough, Coventry City and Ipswich Town are three of the bigger teams outside the Premier League, while Boro’s Riverside Stadium is one of the better grounds.

Significantly, French winger Fabien Robert was the only short-term signing in the Rovers side last night and the rest were players brought to the club under former manager Sean O’Driscoll.

Boro came under early pressure but soon began to push Rovers back. Julio Arca hit the outside of a post, Barry Robson’s shot was headed out for a corner by James O’Connor, and goalkeeper Gary Woods tipped Seb Hines’s header over the bar.

Saunders employed a 4-1-4-1 line-up with Chris Brown the lone striker and Sam Hird sitting in front of the back four.

Boro dictated the tempo but lacked the killer ball in the final third. They were fortunate not to concede a penalty in the 33rd minute when Hines appeared to trip Brown in the area.

However, the home supporters jeered referee Darren Drysdale off the pitch at the interval after his decision to blow the whistle and call time only a second before Arca delivered a ball put into the net by Jutkiewicz.

Boro showed more urgency after the break but there was still a shortage of ideas when it came to unlocking a stubborn Rovers defence. McDonald spurned a golden opportunity to break the deadlock when heading wide from just a few yards out.

The Australian had been picked out by Justin Hoyte and probably had too much time to think about his header. As the ball bounced wide, there were moans of disbelief from Boro supporters whose frustration was starting to show.

When Rovers defender Shelton Martis limped off with an injury, it gave teenager James Husband his initial taste of first-team football.

One of several young players likely to play a key role in the club’s bid for promotion next season, Husband took over at leftback with George Friend moving inside.

Boro continued to enjoy the lion’s share of the ball but were getting nowhere fast. The introduction of substitutes Curtis Main and Adam Hammill was viewed as a positive sign, judging by the reaction of the crowd, but within moments of the switch Boro should have gone behind.

Rovers winger John Oster broke clear of the Boro’s defence yet opted to pass instead of shoot.

It still took a great sliding tackle from Arca to prevent Brown shooting from 12 yards.

On such small margins are games won and lost and, if Rovers had been high on confidence, Oster would have gone for goal.

Rovers goalkeeper Woods saved at a corner from Tony McMahon before James Coppinger curled a free-kick over at the opposite end. Brown then failed to take advantage when found by O’Connor’s excellent cross.

Another great opportunity for Boro went begging when Jutkiewicz shot into the stands.

Substitute Hammill hit the crossbar with a late cross and had an appeal for a penalty turned down when his shot struck Friend high on the chest.

Middlesbrough: Steele; McMahon Hines, McManus, Hoyte; Jutkiewicz, Bailey, Arca (Thomson 75), Robson (Main 63); Emnes (Hammill 63), McDonald. Unused substitutes: Ogbeche, Smallwood.

Doncaster Rovers: Woods; O’Connor, Martis (Husband 51), Lockwood, Friend; Hird; Coppinger, Oster, Gillett, Robert ( Bennett 57), Brown. Unused substitutes: Hayter, Barnes,Dumbuya.

Referee: D Drysdale (Cambridgeshire)