Middlesbrough's Championship play-off hopes were dented as relegated Doncaster held on for a goalless draw.

Curtis Main and Kevin Thomson went close and Adam Hammill rattled the crossbar as Middlesbrough piled on the pressure in a frantic final minute.

Earlier Doncaster thought they should have had a first-half penalty when Chris Brown went down in the area.

The draw leaves Middlesbrough four points from the play-off positions with only two games remaining.

Victories for fifth-placed Cardiff and sixth-placed Blackpool left Middlesbrough ruing their profligacy against Rovers, whose relegation to League One was confirmed by a home defeat against Portsmouth on Saturday.

The home side had numerous chances before the interval, with Julio Arca slamming a shot against a post and goalkeeper Gary Woods keeping out a header from Lukas Jutkiewicz, who also had a goal ruled out for offside.

It was more of the same in the second half but Scott McDonald headed wide when it had been easier to score, while Jutkiewicz smashed over from inside the area.

Doncaster then weathered the late onslaught to earn a first point on Teesside since 1957.

Lineup, Bookings (1) & Substitutions (5)

Middlesbrough

  • 01 Steele
  • 02 Hoyte
  • 06 McManus
  • 15 Hines
  • 29 McMahon
  • 10 Bailey
  • 17 Robson (Main - 63' )
  • 18 Arca (Thomson - 74' )
  • 07 McDonald
  • 09 Emnes (Hammill - 62' )
  • 30 Jutkiewicz

Substitutes

  • 08 Thomson
  • 11 Hammill
  • 33 Smallwood
  • 16 Ogbeche
  • 25 Main

Doncaster Rovers

  • 33 Woods
  • 02 O'Connor
  • 03 Friend
  • 04 Martis (Husband - 50' )
  • 11 Lockwood
  • 21 Hird
  • 16 Oster
  • 18 Gillett
  • 26 Coppinger
  • 09 Brown
  • 22 Robert (Bennett - 57' Booked )

Substitutes

  • 24 Dumbuya
  • 40 Husband
  • 17 Barnes
  • 12 Hayter
  • 23 Bennett
Ref: Drysdale
Att: 14,967

Match Stats

Shots

19 5

On target

8 1

Corners

8 2

Fouls

8 5

Live Text Commentary

90:00 +5:33 Full time

Full Time The final whistle goes and the game is over.

90:00 +5:05

Inswinging corner taken by Tony McMahon from the left by-line, clearance by George Friend.

90:00 +4:44

Curtis Main takes a shot. Save by Gary Woods.

90:00 +4:00

Justin Hoyte delivers the ball, Lukas Jutkiewicz takes a shot. Save by Gary Woods.

90:00 +3:10

Curtis Main has an effort at goal from just inside the box that misses to the left of the target.

90:00 +2:36

Adam Hammill takes a shot. Blocked by James Coppinger.

90:00 +1:30

A cross is delivered by Tony McMahon, clearance made by Sam Hird.

89:33

Adam Hammill fouled by James O'Connor, the ref awards a free kick. Adam Hammill takes the direct free kick.

88:41

The assistant referee signals for offside against Curtis Main. Gary Woods restarts play with the free kick.

88:01

Adam Hammill takes a shot.

87:06

Adam Hammill produces a cross, Nicky Bailey produces a header from inside the area that goes over the crossbar.

86:50

Centre by Lukas Jutkiewicz, clearance by John Oster.

85:30

Foul by Curtis Main on James Husband, free kick awarded. George Friend takes the direct free kick.

84:05

Effort on goal by James Coppinger from just inside the penalty area goes harmlessly over the target.

83:56

The ball is swung over by James O'Connor, Stephen McManus makes a clearance.

83:44

The ball is crossed by James Husband, clearance by Seb Hines.

82:48 Booking

Booking Kyle Bennett booked.

81:01

Short corner taken by James Coppinger from the left by-line.

80:30

Adam Hammill takes a shot. Blocked by George Friend.

78:51

The ball is crossed by Adam Hammill, save by Gary Woods.

77:17

Effort from deep inside the area by Lukas Jutkiewicz misses to the right of the target.

75:52

The official flags Chris Brown offside. Jason Steele takes the indirect free kick.

73:48 Substitution

Substitution Kevin Thomson joins the action as a substitute, replacing Julio Arca.

72:56

James O'Connor delivers the ball, Jason Steele makes a save.

71:01

Nicky Bailey gives away a free kick for an unfair challenge on James Coppinger. James Coppinger shoots direct from the free kick.

68:57

The ball is sent over by Adam Hammill.

66:56

Inswinging corner taken right-footed by Adam Hammill from the left by-line, Tony McMahon takes a shot. Save by Gary Woods.

65:58

Centre by Adam Hammill.

64:01

John Oster sends in a cross, blocked by Julio Arca.

62:11 Substitution

Substitution Barry Robson goes off and Curtis Main comes on.

61:43 Substitution

Substitution Adam Hammill is brought on as a substitute for Marvin Emnes.

59:58

The official flags Chris Brown offside. Free kick taken by Seb Hines.

59:32

Chris Brown fouled by Stephen McManus, the ref awards a free kick. Sam Hird restarts play with the free kick.

56:54 Substitution

Substitution Fabien Robert leaves the field to be replaced by Kyle Bennett.

56:22

Julio Arca produces a cross, Seb Hines produces a header from deep inside the six-yard box that clears the crossbar.

55:16

Inswinging corner taken from the left by-line by Tony McMahon, George Friend makes a clearance.

54:39

Inswinging corner taken by Barry Robson, save made by Gary Woods.

50:57

Close range headed effort by Scott McDonald misses to the right of the goal.

49:38 Substitution

Substitution James Husband joins the action as a substitute, replacing Shelton Martis.

48:37

Barry Robson has an effort at goal from outside the box which goes wide left of the target.

45:01

The match restarts for the second half.

45:00 +1:16 Half time

Half Time The ref blows to end the first period.

45:00 +0:26

Barry Robson fouled by Simon Gillett, the ref awards a free kick. Nicky Bailey takes the free kick.

43:51

Stephen McManus gives away a free kick for an unfair challenge on Chris Brown. Free kick crossed by John Oster.

43:04

The assistant referee signals for offside against Scott McDonald. Simon Gillett takes the indirect free kick.

41:31

The ball is delivered by Tony McMahon, Shelton Martis manages to make a clearance.

40:40

Lukas Jutkiewicz takes a shot. Save by Gary Woods.

39:05

Simon Gillett takes a shot. Save by Jason Steele.

38:27

Barry Robson challenges Simon Gillett unfairly and gives away a free kick. Gary Woods takes the free kick.

36:58

James O'Connor gives away a free kick for an unfair challenge on Scott McDonald. Free kick crossed right-footed by Tony McMahon, Gary Woods fouled by Seb Hines, the ref awards a free kick. Gary Woods takes the direct free kick.

35:53

A cross is delivered by Barry Robson, Header from close range by Lukas Jutkiewicz clears the bar.

35:07

Corner taken left-footed by Barry Robson, save by Gary Woods.

35:00

The ball is crossed by Marvin Emnes, blocked by George Friend.

32:43

Barry Robson sends in a cross, Adam Lockwood manages to make a clearance.

27:25

The ball is crossed by Tony McMahon.

25:53

The assistant referee signals for offside against Fabien Robert. Indirect free kick taken by Jason Steele.

24:01

The ball is crossed by Justin Hoyte, Sam Hird manages to make a clearance.

22:25

Lukas Jutkiewicz takes a shot. Save made by Gary Woods.

22:25

Lukas Jutkiewicz takes a shot. Gary Woods makes a comfortable save.

21:11

The ball is swung over by James O'Connor, John Oster has a headed effort at goal from deep inside the area missing to the left of the target.

20:14

Inswinging corner taken right-footed by Tony McMahon from the left by-line, Julio Arca takes a shot. Blocked by Scott McDonald.

19:32

Corner taken left-footed by Barry Robson from the right by-line, Lukas Jutkiewicz takes a shot. Gary Woods makes a save.

19:14

Shot by Barry Robson from deep inside the penalty area misses to the right of the goal.

17:21

George Friend sends in a cross, save by Jason Steele.

15:47

Header from deep inside the area by Stephen McManus goes over the bar.

15:11

Shelton Martis challenges Scott McDonald unfairly and gives away a free kick. Tony McMahon restarts play with the free kick.

14:53

Foul by James Coppinger on Tony McMahon, free kick awarded. Direct free kick taken by Nicky Bailey.

14:23

Tony McMahon gives away a free kick for an unfair challenge on Simon Gillett. James Coppinger takes the free kick.

13:41

The referee blows for offside against Lukas Jutkiewicz. Gary Woods takes the indirect free kick.

13:15

The ball is delivered by Barry Robson, clearance by James O'Connor.

10:32

Free kick awarded for an unfair challenge on Chris Brown by Barry Robson. Free kick taken by James O'Connor.

9:41

Corner from the right by-line taken by James Coppinger, clearance by Stephen McManus.

9:20

The ball is swung over by Julio Arca, John Oster gets a block in.

7:17

The offside flag is raised against Fabien Robert. Jason Steele takes the free kick.

6:11

The ball is crossed by Julio Arca, Gary Woods makes a save.

4:48

The ball is sent over by James O'Connor, Header from close range by Chris Brown clears the bar.

2:24

Corner taken by Tony McMahon.

0:00

The match begins.

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