Leeds United's Premiership title chances were dealt a hammer blow by the Riverside Stadium woodwork in a hugely entertaining goalless draw.

Midfielder Lee Bowyer was denied by both the bar and the post and wasted a glorious late opportunity to win the game as chances went begging at both ends.

Leeds marginally shaded the game. But Boro, who were reduced to 10 men four minutes from time when Gianluca Festa was dismissed for a second bookable offence within two minutes, also had their opportunities.

Hamilton Ricard hit the post with a first-half header and forced Nigel Martyn into a good save in an encounter which swang from end to end in quick succession.

But in front of a stadium record 34,800 crowd it was the visitors who finished the stronger, and Boro had to battle hard for their point.

Bryan Robson was dealt a major blow when captain Paul Ince failed a late fitness test on the ankle problem he picked up in training with England during the week, Neil Maddison taking his place in an otherwise unchanged side.

Leeds were without suspended trio Gary Kelly, Eirik Bakke and Matthew Jones but were able to call upon experienced deputies in Danny Mills, Alf-Inge Haaland and David Hopkin.

Ricard's decision to shoot directly from the kick-off, albeit wildly inaccurate, set the tone for a first half in which both sides could have built up a commanding lead.

It was Leeds who enjoyed the better of the opening exchanges, with Bowyer having a goal chalked off for offside after Mark Schwarzer had spilled Harry Kewell's shot, and the Australian sending another long-range effort just wide with less than two minutes on the clock.

Ricard blasted just wide on 12 minutes after running on to Andy Campbell's pass, but it was the visitors who came closest to taking the lead early on.

Alan Smith found space down the left with 29 minutes gone, and when he crossed to the far post Bowyer rose unopposed to thunder a header against the bar.

The Boro defence managed to close ranks but could only clear the ball as far as Ian Harte on the edge of the penalty area, and it took a solid save from Schwarzer to keep out his blistering drive.

However, the Teessiders grew in confidence as the half wore on and could have gone in front three times in the last 10 minutes.

Curtis Fleming saw a 35th-minute shot drift just wide after Martyn had blocked Juninho's effort on the edge of his box, and Campbell shot just over after Christian Ziege and Juninho had torn the Leeds defence apart.

But it was Ricard who went closest, arching his back to direct a 43rd-minute header on to the foot of the post from Ziege's cross.

Leeds were always a threat, though, and Schwarzer was grateful to see a snap volley from Kewell pass his post after he had punched a deep cross straight to the striker.

The pace of the game did not drop after the break, Jason Wilcox squandering a fine chance just a minute after the restart and Mills shooting just too high.

But it was Martyn who had to pull off a good save to keep his side level on 52 minutes, blocking Ricard's effort after Campbell and Juninho had combined to split the Leeds defence.

The visitors were denied by the post once again on the hour as Bowyer started and almost finished a flowing attack, and Kewell passed up a good opportunity six minutes later when his control deserted him when through on goal - and his flick at Schwarzer earned him a yellow card.

But United were gradually turning the screw and forged a series of openings.

Darren Huckerby had a goal disallowed for offside and he, Harte and Mills all went close with long-range strikes.

Juninho almost won it for Boro nine minutes from time with a curling free-kick after Ricard was brought down by Haaland on the edge of the box, but Bowyer should have clinched all three points two minutes later after finding himself in front of goal with only Martyn to beat.

Festa's 86th-minute dismissal set up a tense finish, but Boro managed to hang on to cap a good afternoon's work.

Teams:

Middlesbrough: Schwarzer, Fleming, Festa, Pallister, Cooper, Ziege, Juninho, Maddison (Cummins 74), Summerbell, Campbell (Armstrong 74), Ricard (Vickers 87).

Subs Not Used: Beresford, Stockdale.

Sent Off: Festa (86).

Booked: Festa, Pallister, Ziege.

Leeds: Martyn, Mills, Woodgate, Radebe, Harte, Haaland, Hopkin (Bridges 87), Bowyer, Wilcox, Smith (Huckerby 56),Kewell.

Subs Not Used: Robinson, Duberry, Maybury.

Booked: Kewell, Mills, Haaland.

Att: 34,800

Ref: U Rennie (Sheffield).