Leeds United and 10-man Middlesbrough played out a goalless draw in their Championship clash at Elland Road on Monday night.

Victory for the visitors would have seen them return to the top of the table ahead of Hull City, but it is now five games without a win in the league for Aitor Karanka's side, who could not register despite a host of opportunities throughout the match.

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It was Leeds that made the brighter start to proceedings and the hosts came close to an opener in the fifth minute when Souleymane Doukara set up Mirko Antenucci from a wide position, but the striker's goal-bound effort was blocked by Ben Gibson.

Christian Stuani had a golden chance down the other end in the 13th minute after making contact on a cross from Gaston Ramirez, but Marco Silvestri made the save and it just would not fall for Jordan Rhodes on his first Middlesbrough start.

Rhodes actually had the ball in the back of the net in the 19th minute when he headed an Emilio Nsue cross home from close range, but the referee adjudged that the ball had crossed the goal-line when Nsue delivered from a wide area.

Ritchie de Laet almost scored a spectacular own-goal for the visitors on the 30-minute mark after a corner caused all sorts of problems inside the Middlesbrough box, but the woodwork saved the defender during an end-to-end period of the match.

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Doukara proved problematic to the away side in the first period and had another half-chance in the 32nd minute, but his strike from distance was always just too high. Ramirez also tried his luck from long range as Middlesbrough went close in the 41st minute, but the two teams entered the interval on level terms.

It took until just past the hour mark for either team to come close in the second half. The opportunity arrived for the visitors, but Stuani somehow volleyed the ball into the ground and over the crossbar from close range in what was a wonderful chance for Karanka's side.

Middlesbrough had another chance just five minutes later and again it came for Stuani, but the attacker headed over from close range.

It appeared that Leeds would take the lead in the 71st minute when a header from Doukara looked to be finding the bottom corner, but Dimitrios Konstantopoulos was on hand to save.

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Rhodes, who was a threat all game, again came close 10 minutes from time, but the striker just missed the post with a clever header. Doukara also remained a threat down the other end and came close with a header of his own, but again his effort was just wide.

Middlesbrough went down to 10 men in the 89th minute when Gibson picked up his second yellow for a late challenge on Lee Erwin, but Leeds, who had a wonderful chance late on through Doukara, could not force a winner as the points were shared.