Middlesbrough 0-0 Huddersfield Town: Terriers thwart managerless Boro in dull scoreless draw
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Huddersfield have only picked up two away points from a possible 21 this season, but both came under Mark Fotheringham
Bottom-of-the-table Huddersfield Town earned just their second away point of the season as they frustrated fellow Championship strugglers Middlesbrough in a poor game at the Riverside.
Managerless Boro, who seem set to appoint Michael Carrick as boss in the coming days, had the better of the possession but lacked conviction and creativity in the final third and were unable to secure back-to-back league wins for the first time this season
Town were equally toothless in attack, although Danny Ward wasted a great chance to secure all the points when he was denied by keeper Zack Steffen from close range soon after the break.
Boro's 4-1 walloping of Wigan Athletic on Wednesday - their second victory in four games under interim boss Leo Percovich - took them up to 20th in the table, but a first-half Tommy Smith effort, which was well saved by keeper Lee Nicholls, was as close as they came.
There was no sign of Carrick in the stands but if he wasn't watching, he did not miss much of a game. Both sides looked tidy enough in possession in an even first half, but with just 35 goals in 29 games between them before the game it was little surprise that chances were at a premium.
The visitors threatened through Ward, who sent an early effort wide, and a couple of Sorba Thomas strikes, the first of which saw his whipped corner hit the top of the bar.
Boro almost went ahead from a corner of their own, with Town keeper Nicholls having to make a fine low save when Paddy McNair's header from a Ryan Giles corner was knocked towards goal by Smith.
Alex Mowatt also went close with a dipping free-kick that was just off target while the hosts, who remain 21st having managed just four wins from 16 league games so far, thought they should have had a penalty when a sliced clearance by defender Tom Lees bounced up and hit his arm.
A bright start to the second half by Huddersfield should have brought a breakthrough, but Ward was denied on the follow-up by Steffen, who made amends after spilling a Jack Rudoni strike.
However, that double chance was a rare moment of excitement and neither side did enough to deserve victory in an uninspiring second period, although Boro were once again angered by a rejected penalty claim.
Huddersfield boss Mark Fotheringham:
"It was a really solid performance. The lads were really compact and all the things we've been working on in training have really come to the fore.
"There's a lot we can do to improve, but I felt like on another day we could've snatched all three points, especially with the one that Rudoni has a great shot and on the rebound we don't quite put it in.
"But it was a solid performance with a great base to play from and defensively we looked strong - not only from the back four, but the five in midfield had great energy and legs.
"That's what this team is going to be about under my reign, I want them to have as many clean sheets as possible to give us a base to play the offensive football."
Middlesbrough interim manager Lee Percovich on the game and his future:
"I will just keep working. I am giving my service to the club, and we will keep going in the same way until things change.
"We [Percovich and Boro chairman Steve Gibson] always talk. I am just waiting for when we regroup again, and then we will see if we are doing the next step.
"It is two-and-a-half weeks since I got this, and the games have been so quick. Every three days there has been a game.
"The most important thing is that we have provided some balance and some stability, and I think the team has found a little more since we came. We got a clean sheet, and were very positive defending set-pieces. Huddersfield are one of the best teams in the league at scoring from set-pieces."