Ainsley Maitland-Niles finds Brett Pitman with a fine cross from the right, but under pressure the Ipswich Town forward balloons his header over the bar.   

Grant Leadbitter goes in cautioned but referee Tim Robinson lets play run on before booking the midfielder.

Ipswich Town with the corner. Swung in, no danger. Goalless we stay.

And all of a sudden the chances are coming quickly.

Dean Gerken gets a hand to a rasping Grant Leadbitter shot. The Boro man did well with that snap effort, but that has to go down as a let off for the hosts.

And just as I tap those words out, Brett Pitman for all the world looked like he had the chance to put Ipswich Town ahead.

He moves clear as the ball is swung deep to the back post, but his header had no pace and is easily clutched.

This fixture has never finished goalless at Portman Road.

The movie Something's Gotta Give starred Jack Nicholson, but who is going to star here tonight to break the deadlock?

I'm very much stretching there to make my point...

And here we go!

It is that feel-good time of year. Christmas trees are being decorated, mince pies are accepted as a food group all of their own and the non-league football side that you follow every bitter winter is within 90 minutes of being drawn against a Premier League opponent.

Yep, it is the second round of the FA Cup.

Right now non-league Salford City are holding Hartlepool 1-1 in the first tie of the round.

There are plenty of characters and stories behind this weekend's action. Have you heard the story about the singing and writing football manager or the one about the club with fans who like to set their song to the tune of Taylor Swift beats?

Image source, Getty Images

So far it has been an eventful round of Championship action, we have had one match and one managerial departure as a result.

Reading sacked boss Steve Clarke following Thursday's 1-0 loss to Queens Park Rangers, who earlier today appointed Jimmy Floyd Hasselbainkas manager at Loftus Road.

Image source, Rex Features

Well, there is plenty more to come with nine Championship fixtures tomorrow and Sheffield Wednesday hosting Derby County on Sunday.  

Plenty of festive cheer going on in the stands, but not too much to get excited about on the pitch so far.

What gifts will the second half have in store for us?

Image source, Rex Features

By all rights this one should be a blockbuster between two sides pushing for Premier League promotion.

But as it stands, an uneventful goalless draw will be enough to at least see Ipswich Town move into the play-off spots.

For Middlesbrough, it takes them a point closer to top and leaves Brighton & Hove Albion a point clear at the summit.

Still, we have 45 minutes to come and plenty, I'm sure will happen.

That minute of added time at the end of the first-half went off uneventfully.

Ipswich Town will feel that they should be ahead, with Luke Chambers having the best effort of the half saved from point blank.

Grant Leadbitter seems lucky not to be the next into the book for Middlesbrough as he lunges to foul Ainsley Maitland-Niles.

Ipswich Town with the free-kick and possession now turning into a corner from the right. Surprise, surprise as it is cleared with a punch. No harm done.

With a turn and attempt to get away, Ipswich Town's Brett Pitman draws the foul from Ben Gibson. And the Middlesbrough man is first to go into the book at Portman Road.

Dangerous free-kick coming here from distance and right in front.

And up, up and away the effort goes from Pitman. High, wide and whatever else you do to miss by a mile.

It is two decades and counting since Middlesbrough last won at Portman Road. As it stands, that is not about to change.

Ipswich have looked the more industrious, but Boro not exactly being outplayed in what has been a half of few chances.

Ainsley Maitland-Niles earns a free-kick in a promising position. He swings the ball in, but it's dealt with easy as you like.

The tempo of this match has lifted a notch, but apart from a few chances early on from the hosts little going on in front of goal.

It is not all one way traffic right now and Grant Leadbitter is making sure of that for Middlesbrough.

Not everything has come to fruition from the midfielder, as he has the Ipswich defence in a moment of panic but it is Emilio Nsue who gets in front of home goalkeeper Dean Gerken to concede the free-kick.

Luke Chambers. Point blank and forced Dimitrios Konstantopoulos into a fine reaction save.

Should have been 1-0 there for Ipswich Town as Middlesbrough's defence were well and truly caught out as Chambers got in at the far post to try and poke home.

Image source, Rex Features

Middlesbrough goalkeeper Dimitrios Konstantopoulos palms away a powerful Brett Pitman effort.

The keeper needed to be firm there - that was fizzing from Jersey-born frontman Pitman.