Boro take Charlton up north

Thursday, 23, Mar 2006 10:03

Middlesbrough and Charlton played out an uneventful 0-0 draw in their FA Cup quarter-final at the Valley.

Charlton will have to win up at the Riverside if they wish to make it into the last four for the first time but they will be in for a serious test. Arsenal, Manchester United and Chelsea have all been beaten there this season.

Yakubu failed to capitalise on the first chance of last night's match, as Franck Queudrue found the Nigerian with a cross in the third minute but he could only head over.

Gaizka Mendieta was the next player to try his luck but his effort was deflected away by the big Icelandic defender Hermann Hreidarsson.

After the early Boro chances Charlton dominated the rest of the first half and Mark Schwarzer was forced into two good saves.

The first one was impressive but the second was brilliant, Hreidarsson struck a volley in the 36th minute and Schwarzer was able to get his left hand out quickly enough.

Middlesbrough came back into the game in the second period with Stewart Downing becoming more influential as the match wore on.

Ugo Ehiogu finished the game with a bandage on his head after the flailing arm of Shaun Bartlett cut him.

Dennis Rommedahl came on after an hour and he created the best chance of the half. He jinked past the visitor's defence, but his shot rose over the crossbar.

Mark Viduka and James Morrison were brought on by Middlesbrough but neither was able to create the breakthrough.