Stalemate at Riverside

Middlesbrough and Crystal Palace are both still winless in the npower Championship this year following a goalless draw at a snow-hit Riverside Stadium.

In freezing conditions that certainly affected the action, Boro goalkeeper Jason Steele had to make several fine saves to ensure his side claimed a hard-earned point. However, the promotion chasers are now without a victory in six league matches - a run that stretches back to Boxing Day.

The Eagles may feel aggrieved to leave the north-east without all three points after largely dominating the encounter, and they have now not triumphed in five Championship matches.

Steele was called into action to deny Jermaine Easter before Darren Ambrose fired over the rebound from just outside the area.

Palace were nearly made to rue their profligacy as Lukas Jutkiewicz's strike from Justin Hoyte's cross threatened to win it at the death, but Julian Speroni did well to deny the former Coventry striker and ensure the spoils were shared.