Australian Mark Schwarzer helped Middlesbrough set a new club record of seven straight clean sheets in the league but the club's strikers failed to find a way past an equally resilient Charlton defence.

Massimo Maccarone came closest to breaking the deadlock in the first half when he forced Dean Kiely into a fine save with a superb left-foot volley.

Charlton's best effort was a superb volley from Graham Stuart which Australian international Schwarzer acrobatically tipped over the bar. But neither side deserved to claim all three points from a poor encounter.

The greatest excitement came from a first-half clash between Danny Mills and Paolo di Canio.

Mills appeared to stand on di Canio as the two tussled near the corner flag, the Italian emerging with blood streaming down his face which he showed to referee Howard Webb after play stopped 30 seconds later.

Di Canio was incensed but the referee was unmoved.

It was no surprise when Maccarone, whose every mistake was greeted with howls of despair, made way for Michael Ricketts with 20 minutes to go and he immediately provided a more direct threat, charging into the box but shooting straight at Kiely on the near post.

Stewart Downing, recalled from his successful loan spell at Sunderland, was also brought on but neither side deserved to claim a winner.

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