Half-time: Middlesbrough 0 QPR 0

QPR, playing without a recognised striker in the absence of Charlie Austin, made it to half-time on level terms thanks to a miss from David Nugent and some resolute defending.

Middlesbrough forward Nugent nudged the ball against the post after being set up by Albert Adomah.

Earlier, Nedum Onuoha produced a terrific last-ditch challenge to deny Nugent and Diego Fabbrini then blasted over the Rangers bar.

Austin has been nursing a slight calf problem and interim boss Neil Warnock also missed the game at the Riverside Stadium, for personal reasons, leaving Kevin Blackwell in charge.

Rangers have defended in numbers and posed very little threat at the other end of the pitch, with keeper Dimi Konstantopoulos easily able to deal with long-range efforts from Leroy Fer and Sandro.

Konstantopoulos was at least tested by a firmly-struck free-kick from Alejandro Faurin, which he managed to punch away, before the lively Fabbrini fired wide in the final seconds of the half.