IT just wasn’t to be for Middlesbrough at the Riverside, as they pressed in search of that elusive three points that would have given the fight for survival a real lift.

Boro had their chances to defeat Burnley but could not find a way through, which has become the story of the club’s season. Here are main talking points from the stalemate on Teesside.

TAKING THE MICHAEL

First and foremost, before suggesting Michael Keane could easily have been sent off in the closing stages, it is worth pointing out that it might not have made a difference.

Similarly, though, it could have made all the difference!

Keane was the last man and he had allowed his man to get the wrong side of him when Patrick Bamford’s brilliant touch looked to have got him clean through on goal with four minutes to go.

Referee Martin Atkinson only issued a yellow card rather than the red, much to the frustration of the home fans. Did the England defender deserve to go? Probably.

Moments later he made a late tackle again on Bamford. Had he been off the pitch, who would have made that then?

Middlesbrough are looking for every little bit of luck they can conjure up at this stage of the season and Atkinson’s decision to keep Keane on the pitch wasn’t one of those that went for them.

THE IMPACT FROM THE BENCH

It was a surprise to see Alvaro Negredo, the leading scorer, start on the bench. It wasn’t so much a shock to see Adama Traore and Patrick Bamford there too.

But when all three were introduced, they all had a positive impact. Negredo was the first and looked hungry to add to his seven goals. He was denied another by goalkeeper Tom Heaton and had a goal ruled out for handball.

Traore was a bag of tricks again and showed he could also make an impact as a striker, which ruffled a few feathers in the backline.

And Bamford, who hardly got a look in during his time at Burnley in the first half of the season, looked desperate to impress.

The £6m man might have been short of his best in his previous outings after moving back to the North-East in the summer, but his touch and energy were evident today – and he almost sparked the extra edge that would have led to the win.

CHANGE OF SYSTEMS

This was Agnew’s fourth match in charge and fourth different system. He is certainly not afraid to try different things … and this bit of tinkering almost led to the win.

Switching to a three-man defence, with wing-backs, meant certain players like Traore missed out, but they still did enough defensively to prevent Burnley from really threatening the Victor Valdes goal.

But Agnew will have seen enough to have been encouraged. Whether he sticks with it could depend on what personnel he feels can fill the roles, after all it was not until the closing stages when Middlesbrough really started to threaten in the final third.

That was when the head coach threw more and more forwards on in the hope of finding the elusive winner. It might not be the last time he fields the system this season, but he could do with trying to accommodate the likes of Negredo and Traore in it somehow.

CHAMPIONSHIP LINE-UP

There were plenty of suggestions before the game that Agnew was sending out a team which could easily be playing in the Championship next season.

A bit harsh? It was easy to see what they meant. There was plenty of bite in the middle, with Grant Leadbitter and Adam Clayton turning in a display reminiscent of the promotion season. Adam Forshaw buzzed around them.

At the top of the tree there was the powerhouse figure of Rudy Gestede, who has proven himself in the Football League rather than the Premier League, and that could well be the case next season if relegation does fall on the club.

Marten de Roon, Negredo, Traore and Viktor Fischer were all part of the bench against Burnley and none of those were around in the Championship. Will they be still here next season? Only time will tell.

Agnew and the players will not be giving up the challenge just yet. They have a game in hand on fourth from bottom Hull and are six points behind them, with seven matches remaining.

It is not a lost cause, but Middlesbrough could do with stunning a couple of the big boys in the remaining weeks of the campaign … starting with Arsenal on Easter Monday.

MANAGERIAL REACTION

Steve Agnew said: "From where I was stood I was disappointed with the decision because Bamford was through on goal on a one-v-one with the keeper.

“I can't remember, I think Victor maybe had one save in the second half and if you think about our chances, Alvaro did everything right with his chance and so did Stewart Downing. In terms of attitude effort commitment we deserved a goal and deserved the three points. We live to fight another day.

“It's a missed opportunity given the other results, we’re six off it with an extra game to play. All to play for and still positive. We pushed and pushed and couldn't give any more.

"Not to get the goal today was the disappointment. I'm encouraged by lots of things I saw and we've got plenty of time to prepare for the Arsenal game now.”

Sean Dyche said: "It's another point on the board. It was an awkward game and we delivered a performance good enough to earn a clean sheet.

"With Michael Keane's yellow card, it was a tangle between the two players and that's why I assume it's a yellow.

“I've not been too frustrated at a lack of an away win this season. It's a reality of the division, and we've found it tough on the road because every team has good home form and Middlesbrough have not lost that many here. It's tough going round the Premier League, and it's more of a conundrum as to why we've not won away.

“I don't think many thought we'd get as many points as we have at this stage. You can never guarantee safety until it comes.

“It's been a big week and to pull four points out of three games is pleasing. We're in a good position to take care of our own business now. A draw's about right.”