VICTOR VALDES helped highlight why Middlesbrough have one of the best defensive records in the Premier League, even if the winless run was extended again.

Boro claimed a point against the in-form Toffees on an afternoon when Valdes made three impressive stops to prevent Romelu Lukaku and Ademola Lookman, twice, from finding the net.

Middlesbrough were solid, like they have been for most of the season, and occasionally threatened to score the winner themselves.

Rudy Gestede, a late replacement for Alvaro Negredo, saw an excellent header turned over by Everton keeper Joel Robles, a compatriot of Valdes, with just three minutes remaining.

Instead the search for a win from Aitor Karanka’s side has been stretched to eight matches ahead of crucial fixtures against Crystal Palace and Sunderland after the FA Cup visit of Oxford United.

There was very little to cause either goalkeeper problems for much of the first half, but Middlesbrough did look the most dangerous when they moved forward during that opening half hour.

Adama Traore, Negredo and Cristhian Stuani, preferred ahead of Stewart Downing on the left, had half chances without really asking Joel a question.

And a failure to make the most of that pressure almost proved costly on half hour. Bernardo Espinosa ridiculous pass went straight to Tom Davies, who quickly fed Lukaku through on goal.

The Premier League’s top scorer looked odds on to find the breakthrough but his low effort destined for the bottom corner was strongly turned away by Valdes’ left.

The former Barcelona man was also in the way of Lookman’s effort from a tight angle when Seamus Coleman’s delivery to the back post was badly misjudged by Calum Chambers.

After the restart Middlesbrough saw more of the ball than the opposition and Ben Gibson went close to earning the lead when his header was nodded off the line by Leighton Baines just after the hour.

Everton still created the better opening until the dying seconds. Valdes had to make a second impressive stop with his left foot to thwart Lookman again after he was played cleverly in on goal by Ross Barkley.

But the best stop was saved for Joel. The Spaniard flew in the air with three minutes remaining to brilliantly tip over a power header from substitute Gestede.

A draw does mean Middlesbrough have extended the gap to the relegation zone to two points. 

MIDDLESBROUGH (4-1-4-1): Valdes; Chambers, Bernardo, Gibson, Fabio; Clayton; Traore, Forshaw (Guedioura 58), De Roon, Stuani (Ramirez 66); Negredo (Gestede 82). Subs (not used): Guzan (gk), Ayala, Leadbitter, Downing.

EVERTON (4-2-3-1): Joel; Coleman, Funes Mori, Williams, Baines; Schneiderlin, Gueye (Valencia 63); Davies, Barkley (Barry 87), Lookman (Lennon 72); Lukaku. Subs (not used): Stekelenberg (gk), Jagielka, Kone, Holgate.