Bournemouth surrender top spot after goalless draw with Middlesbrough

Bournemouth have surrendered their grip on the Championship's top spot as they were held to a goalless draw by title-chasers Middlesbrough at the Riverside Stadium this afternoon.

© Getty Images

Middlesbrough enjoyed much of the early possession in the first 45 minutes and Lee Tomlin almost made it count as he looked to make use of Grant Leadbitter's pass with an attempt down low to Artur Boruc's right.

Bournemouth's first real chance was to fall into the path of Matt Ritchie, but he couldn't make use of it having shot straight at Dimitrios Konstantopoulos from the centre of the box.

The hosts thought they had taken the lead when Reach cannoned in a shot from range, only to see his standout effort crash back off the crossbar, before Adam Clayton sent another long-distance attempt high and wide of the target, leaving the sides to go into the break level.

The visitors started the second half encouragingly when Callum Wilson broke inside the box to collect Ritchie's ball, only to see his shot creep just over the crossbar.

The Bournemouth striker was at it again minutes later when he did well to meet Marc Pugh's cross although he flicked his attempt past the post with the keeper looking uncomfortably out of position.

Going into the final few minutes Middlesbrough's Reach may have hoped that his luck would turnaround when he fired in another worrying shot from range, only to see the ball rise high and wide without troubling Boruc as the game ended goalless.