IN truth, there isn’t a great deal to wax lyrical about this game but Boro can feel pleased with a point on the road to a strong Stoke City as both teams played out a drab goalless draw at the Bet 365 Stadium.

It was game that wouldn’t go down as a classic but the draw ensures Boro are unbeaten in their last three games in the Championship.

The Potters had the better of the early exchanges and the pace of Tyrece Campbell was causing plenty of problems for Boro. After bursting down the left, a cross was headed away by Dael Fry but only as far as Mario Vrancic who’s first time volley was well saved by the returning Joe Lumley at the near post.

Moments later, Campbell was in the thick of the action again when as he beat Anfernee Dijksteel to a ball over the top. The Dutchman pulled him down and earned himself a yellow card despite calls from the home crowd to see a red.

Duncan Watmore, who was so clinical in front of goal against Huddersfield just a few weeks ago, missed an absolute sitter on the 15 minute mark when Isaiah Jones’ cross from the right found him in the six yard box. With the goal at his mercy, he managed to get the ball stuck under his foot and fluff the chance much to the despair of the travelling support. It was a chance that would come back to bite Boro. 

Campbell’s pace was continuing to torment Boro and it was his turn to miss a glaring chance to take the lead for Stoke. Vrancic dinked the ball over the top and the winger had Lumley to beat. He dinked the ball around the keeper who made himself big but Dijksteel made a recovery and cleared the ball into touch. Both sides now had huge chances to put themselves in front in the game.

Boro had one more chance before the half-time interval when Marc Bola found space on the left. His low cross was met Matt Crooks on the edge of the box but his first time effort sailed over the bar. It was an even but competitive first half with both sides having glaring chances to take the lead at the Bet 365 Stadium.

The tempo slowed in the second period as both teams continued to feel each other out. Boro still had the majority of the possession and Wilderball was in full effect but they couldn’t find the desired chink the armour to inflict the damage on the Potters.

With 20 minutes to go, Boro’s hopes of finding an opener took a blow when Matt Crooks was forced off after innocuously going down when challenging for a ball. Sol Bamba took his place as Boro shuffled the pack and put McNair into midfield.

In truth, the second half was a drab affair with neither side registering a chance or a shot on goal. Both teams dealt tried to deal with a skiddy surface with misplaced passes and players slipping off the turf. It didn’t make for pleasant viewing for the 1,686 Boro fans who had made the journey.

Chris Wilder threw on Onel Hernandez and the Cuban almost provided that much needed spark when he jinked around Ben Wilmott on the left. He cut the ball back to Andraz Sporar in a great position but the Slovenian managed to get underneath the ball and volley over from close range.

Stoke then had the chance to punish Boro from a dead ball as Joe Allen whipped an inviting ball into the box. Sam Surridge had a free header from eight yards that he managed to divert wide of the left hand post. Both missed chances were in line with the general theme of the second half.

The ball just wouldn’t go in for Boro or Stoke and Sol Bamba had the final chance as he got on the end of a corner at the back post but his header flashed wide of the post.

The poor showing was drawn to it’s conclusion and while it’s a credible point on the road for Boro, there’ll be much to dissect with Wilder’s side lacking the required potency to earn the win in Staffordshire.