Middlesbrough missed a chance to drag themselves further clear of the Premiership relegation zone as they were held to a goalless draw by Charlton.

Boro battled all the way in the search for precious points to ease their fears of the drop, but could not create the chances to see off a determined Charlton.

Even in-form striker Noel Whelan failed to come up with the goods when presented with an 89th-minute free header from Phil Stamp's cross, while defender Gareth Southgate earlier missed a good opportunity at the back post.

The Teessiders only really made Addicks keeper Dean Kiely work once when French defender Franck Queudrue whistled in a free-kick in first-half injury time, although Mark Crossley was equally under-employed, keeping out a Chris Bart-Williams strike from distance and looking on as Chris Powell wasted good approach work from Scott Parker and Jason Euell.

A point was probably all either side deserved, but neither manager will have been particularly satisfied on an afternoon when victory could have made a big difference to both.

Some of the Boro fans who stayed away from the 2-0 FA Cup win over Manchester United last Saturday returned to the Riverside Stadium for a crucial Premiership game, but they saw little to reward their faith before the break.

A crowd of 24,189 impeccably observed a minute's silence in memory of Colin Cooper's two-year-old son Finlay, but in truth, they had little to shout about when the hostilities began in earnest.

Boro rarely looked like conceding, but worryingly, they troubled Kiely even less frequently. Indeed, it was not until time added on at the end of the first period that they forced the Irishman into a save, although when it came, it was a high-class affair.

Substitute Paul Konchesky, on for the injured Mark Fish, was adjudged to have tripped Whelan 25 yards out, and Queudrue stepped up to smash a left-foot free-kick towards goal which Kiely tipped over at full stretch.

However, other than that, McClaren's men were unable to fulfil the expectations of an initially buoyant crowd as they struggled to mount any consistent pressure on their opponents.

Their work-rate was everything the manager could have asked for, but with Whelan and sidekick Dean Windass struggling to make an impression, the need for an alternative was brought into ever sharper focus.

For their part, Charlton worked equally hard, but like Boro, found chances hard to come by, impressive midfielder Bart-Williams going closest with a 29th-minute strike from distance which arrived at a comfortable height for Crossley.

McClaren opted for change at the break when he withdrew full-back Robbie Stockdale and sent on striker Andy Campbell with Jason Gavin moving to right-back and Windass dropping into midfield.

But the move brought few early dividends and the Boro boss shuffled his pack once again within 18 minutes when he replaced Windass with Carlos Marinelli.

However, it was Charlton who threatened to claim the opening goal as Bart-Williams and midfield dynamo Scott Parker assumed control in the middle of the field, Phil Stamp doing well to put off Powell from Graham Stuart's 66th-minute cross and then seeing the England full-back squander a golden opportunity six minutes later after Parker and Jason Euell unlocked the Boro defence.

But the home side had their best chance of the game 15 minutes from time when Southgate arrived at the far post to meet Marinelli's free-kick, but after seeing the ball late as it travelled over Euell's head, put his effort wide of the post.

The game opened up as time wore on and Southgate in particular found himself in advanced positions, but as Alan Curbishley introduced fresh legs in attack in the shape of Kevin Lisbie and Mathias Svensson, the visitors too stepped up a gear.

Lisbie went close 10 minutes from time when he cut in off the left wing and fired a right-foot shot into Crossley's arms as the home fans collectively held their breath.

But it was Boro who could have snatched it at the death when Stamp got free on the right and sent a teasing cross to the far post for the unmarked Whelan, but his header lacked both the power and the direction to cause Kiely any genuine concern.

Teams:

Middlesbrough: Crossley, Stockdale (Campbell 45), Gavin, Southgate, Festa, Queudrue, Stamp, Ince, Greening, Whelan, Windass (Marinelli 63).

Subs Not Used: Mustoe, Murphy, Jones.

Booked: Campbell.

Charlton: Kiely, Fish (Konchesky 35), Fortune, Powell, Costa, Bart-Williams, Robinson, Parker, Stuart, Euell (Svensson 82), Johansson (Lisbie 73).

Subs Not Used: Ilic, Young.

Booked: Costa, Robinson.

Att: 24,189

Ref: M Riley (Leeds).