Middlesbrough 0-0 Leicester City

Riyad Mahrez was unable to influence the game for Leicester

Middlesbrough and Leicester played out a dull goalless draw at the Riverside to boost their respective effort to pull clear of the bottom three.

In a game bereft of clear-cut chances, there were just four efforts on target throughout the whole 90 minutes.

Middlesbrough wanted a penalty when Robert Huth brought down Adama Traore and Boro's Gaston Ramirez lashed the best opportunity wide from six yards.

Leicester, without a Premier League away win this season compared to 11 in last term's title-winning campaign, saw Leonardo Ulloa head a corner straight at Brad Guzan.

Boro move four points clear of the drop zone, while Leicester have a six-point cushion.

Was it a penalty? Huth thinks so

Possibly the most interesting event at the Riverside came after the game, when Huth admitted he should have conceded a penalty.

The German defender tried to get out of the way as Traore wormed his way into the area in the first half, and even though he made contact with the Boro winger, referee Bobby Madley waved away the appeals.

"We got lucky," Huth told Sky Sports.

Ex-Chelsea winger Pat Nevin, watching the game for BBC Radio 5 live, disagreed with Huth, saying: "There is nothing you can do as a defender. There is contact, but contact does not mean a penalty kick."

Boro on the goal hunt

Alvaro Negredo was an isolated figure up front for Middlesbrough - he only had four touches in the opposition area (see above) and his 40 touches overall was the fewest of any Boro outfield player to play at least 60 minutes

The point for Boro will be a minor consolation after conceding two late goals to lose at Manchester United on Saturday.

But it means they come out of the festive period with just one goal - and no wins - from three games.

Only Hull City have scored fewer goals than Boro's 17 in the Premier League this season and their lack of creativity against Leicester prevented them turning a draw into a win.

Left-back Friend - a first-half substitute for the injured Antonio Barragan - was often their most dangerous attacking outlet as he provided a number of dangerous crosses his team-mates failed to capitalise on.

Foxes prepare for life without Mahrez

Leicester's 1-0 win over West Ham at the weekend meant they were under less pressure to pick up all the points at the Riverside.

But they will now be without influential playmaker Riyad Mahrez potentially until early February, as he leaves to join the Algeria squad for the Africa Cup of Nations.

Mahrez has not been at his best this season though, and in the victory over West Ham it was the combination of Marc Albrighton and Islam Slimani that proved to be the Foxes' most potent weapon.

But with Slimani missing out with a fever - and himself primed for Algeria duty - and Albrighton on the bench, it is a struggle to see where Leicester's attacking thrust will come from over the next few weeks.

Perhaps from Jamie Vardy, who will return from a three-match suspension to face Everton in the FA Cup on Saturday.

Man of the match - George Friend

George Friend is man of the match simply because he seemed to be the only man eager to bring adventure and creativity to the game. He created a chance for himself by beating two Leicester players before shooting over

'We were looking for a point' - Manager reaction

Middlesbrough boss Aitor Karanka: "I am pleased with the players because it's two days after the tough defeat on Saturday against Manchester United.

"We played against a team who won the league last season and are in the Champions League - but we were better than them.

"I am happy with the performance but we could not score the goal."

Leicester boss Claudio Ranieri: "I am pleased with the point because we came here looking for a minimum of one point.

"We defended well and showed good spirit. We wanted to do more but it was difficult because they closed down our actions well. It is an important point to start 2017 with.

"We were not lucky today. I am very, very happy."

Worst performance by a defending champion - match stats

• Leicester have collected just 21 points from their opening 20 Premier League games, the worst return by a reigning champion

• Wes Morgan has played each of Leicester's last 81 Premier League games, the longest current run by a player in the top flight

• Middlesbrough are winless in their last 14 league games against Leicester (D8 L6), their longest current winless streak against any team

• Middlesbrough keeper Brad Guzan has kept consecutive clean sheets in the Premier League for the first time since January 2015

What's next?

It's FA Cup third-round weekend coming up, so Leicester travel to Everton on Saturday in an all-Premier League tie, while Middlesbrough host Championship side Sheffield Wednesday on Sunday.