Leicester City and Middlesbrough picked up their first points of the season after a 0-0 draw.
Plenty of chances but no goals at the Walkers Stadium
Leicester City and Middlesbrough picked up their first points of the season after a 0-0 draw at the Walkers Stadium.
Though goals proved to be beyond the two promotion hopefuls, there was a lively tempo to proceedings as the sides looked to bounce back from opening-day defeats.
DJ Campbell, Chris Weale, Bruno Berner and Lloyd Dyer all returned to the Leicester side after being rested for the Carling Cup win against Macclesfield, while Andy King was back in midfield after representing Wales in midweek.
Gordon Strachan made two changes to the side which lost 3-1 to Ipswich on the opening day. Luke Williams came in for the injured Willo Flood and Jason Steele retained his place in goal following Tuesday's cup victory over Chesterfield.
In the eighth minute Campbell came close to giving Leicester the lead. Dyer collected Steve Howard's flick-on to feed the former Birmingham striker whose shot was deflected narrowly over.
A flurry of corners followed, with King rattling the crossbar and Howard heading wide.
Boro responded with their own spell of pressure and it took an excellent last-ditch tackle from Jack Hobbs to prevent Kris Boyd from converting Stephen McManus' lofted pass.
David Wheater then nodded Barry Robson's searching cross past the post with Weale beaten.
Threat
Boro's Luke Williams was a threat cutting inside from the right wing and skipped past two challenges before shooting narrowly wide in the 16th minute.
Just after the half hour, Steele was forced into a splendid save from Campbell's free-kick. Moments later the same player arrowed a left-footed effort from 20 yards which thudded into the Middlesbrough goalkeeper's chest.
King had the ball in the net for Leicester 10 minutes before half-time but a marginal offside call went against him
Both sides were creating plenty of chances and Leicester's seventh corner of the half was headed over by Howard.
The relentless pace did not resume immediately after the break, but Leicester's Matt Oakley and Middlesbrough substitute Gary O'Neill both went close from free-kicks, and the latter crossed in the 53rd minute for Boyd to head over.
With half an hour remaining, Campbell came agonisingly close to breaking the deadlock when his diving header from Dyer's cross grazed the side-netting.
A wonderful passing move from Leicester ended with King cutting back to Howard whose curling effort was splendidly saved by Steele.
In the 70th minute Kevin Thomson remained on the turf after a robust challenge and departed with a serious looking knee injury.
O'Neil was rarely out of the action after replacing Williams at half-time, collecting a yellow card with 20 minutes remaining before sending a rasping volley narrowly wide from 25 yards.
Both teams went for the win in the closing stages as a fine save by Weale from Scott McDonald was followed by another raft of Leicester corners, taking their total in the game to 16.
