Blues boss Paul Jewell felt his side had the best chances in their entertaining 0-0 draw at Middlesbrough. The Town manager was pleased with the point against one of the division’s pacesetters.

Jewell said: “I thought we had the better opportunities, if I’m being honest. Certainly in the first half we had two gilt-edged ones - Sonko’s header and Chopra’s volley.

“We were a little bit disappointed to go in 0-0 at half-time. We knew they’d come at us a little bit in the second half and I think there were two teams trying to win a match. How it stayed 0-0 I don’t quite know.”

The Liverpudlian thought his players continued the good work from the 3-0 victory over Coventry earlier in the week: “We tried to take confidence from the performance on Monday, we want to pass the ball, and we did pass the ball, and we moved it, but at times we just didn’t pick the right pass.

“Certainly in the second half, we had opportunities to have a shot and we were trying to walk the ball in a little bit.

“But to come to Middlesbrough, who could have gone top of the league today, and push them all the way, is a good performance.”

Jewell was pleased with recent Boro target Jason Scotland’s performance alongside Michael Chopra up front: “I thought Jason was terrific. He held the ball up and it’s so important if you’re going to play that way that the front two players have got to look after the ball.

“We’ve created good situations, good chances in the first half and certainly situations in the second half, but we probably didn’t make the keeper work hard enough.”

The Trinidadian made way before the end with a knock, but his manager doesn’t expect it to be a significant problem: “He just got a kick, the lad stamped on him accidentally and hopefully he’ll be OK in the morning.”

Boro boss Tony Mowbray's thoughts on the game didn't differ too much from his Town counterpart's view: “I’m sure Paul came up and said he was frustrated as well. It was a game in which they had some chances and I think the way both teams were set up it was going to a little bit end to end.

“I wanted us to play the way we’ve been playing and not worry too much about them. But with the quality of the likes of Bullard, Andrews and Bowyer, all experienced Premier League players, we couldn’t get enough pressure on them to force the issue.

“They had a bit of possession, they created a few chances and yet I felt late on [we had opportunities].

“The boy Chopra had a great opportunity to win the game for them, whether that was a good save or not, and so did Scott McDonald late on when he hit the sidenetting in the six-yard box.

“It could have gone either way, that’s how I felt it was. They’ll be disappointed not to have scored. We could be sitting here talking about a 1-0 win or a 1-0 loss.

"I’ll take the positives of a clean sheet. That’s three clean sheets on the bounce and that’s not a bad platform to give yourself to try and win football matches.”

Photo: Action Images

Drew added 17:33 - Sep 24 Fantastic result, and a massive confidence boost for the lads.
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Mark added 17:37 - Sep 24 Two clean sheets, and two good performances, in a week. Jewell's diamond seems to be doing the trick! Clearly bringing in Collins and Sonko has really improved the defence, and as the other experienced players such as Andrews, Bullard and Bowyer and getting towards full fitness they really are picking up the quality of their displays. Well done to the team.
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cooper4england added 17:37 - Sep 24 Very valuable point. Much better
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baldman added 17:39 - Sep 24 great result and sounds as if we should have won more pleasing is another clean sheet
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scunnyblue added 17:41 - Sep 24 Would appear to be a good point. Boro right up there unbeaten . sounds like the team is starting to shape and gel. things looking up ..... PJ's blue n white barmy army !!!!!!
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OrkneyBlue added 17:47 - Sep 24 Four points and two clean sheets in a week. Fingers crossed this is the start of everything clicking in to place, sounded like we deserved the point and maybe even the win. Sonko and Collins look like they are building a good relationship and the rest of the boys are putting in a shift as well. I have to say, so far, I have been happily surprised by Scotlands performances after all the criticism that has come his way....and I have to say that I was one who criticized him! It would have been far to easy for him to drop the bottom lip and go in the huff and not give a monkeys but he hasn't he's dug in and as I said so far, so far, he is getting his reward so fair play.

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Garv added 17:53 - Sep 24 Great result! Fancy the same if not more at Upton Park with the confidence we have at the moment.
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power19 added 17:53 - Sep 24 Borough had scored in their last 20 games, it was over a year since we kept back to back clean sheets and sounded on the balance of play, we were the unluckier not to win. Really encouraging stuff - keep it up!
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Sindre94 added 18:17 - Sep 24 great performance, think we can beat west ham!
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Lovetown added 18:21 - Sep 24 Terrible result. Nil nil against Middelbourugh common guys! We can do better lets not have a repeat of last season!Loads of expectation and naf all!
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marcus139 added 18:25 - Sep 24 Jason scotland deserves much credit, priskin should take a good look...
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broomfield123 added 18:32 - Sep 24 Again fall short. Have to take oour chances
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broomfield123 added 18:33 - Sep 24 Again fall short. Have to take oour chances
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Infineteregress added 18:42 - Sep 24 Again, this board's misery merchants refuse to see the positives: remember the Soton and Peterboro results? A clean sheet against an unbeaten side is nothing to be ashamed of and draw was probably a fair result. Months of the season still to play so onwards and upwards. COYBs!
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bgexile added 18:42 - Sep 24 Strewth! Did Broomfield and Lovetown actually watch the game?? It could've been 3-3...to go up there and take a point shows that we're getting there. The side is gelling and getting fitter. Who wouldn't have taken a point if it was offered before the game? Andrews wasn't at his best I thought but the passing was there and we came very close to scoring at least 3. Let's take the positives from that and move forward.

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alex12345 added 18:46 - Sep 24 A decent result against a very good side in very good form, however Chopra could easily have won the game for us but lets not forget they did also have chances so a fair result all in all. The only worry which is very concerning and hasnt been picked up yet is that Mark Schwarzer got injured and had to be taken off today which could potentially spell the end for Stockdale. I suppose only time will tell however we could seriously do without that problem as ALB is not championship standard. COYB

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Garv added 18:51 - Sep 24 I heard he stayed on alex?
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Garv added 18:54 - Sep 24 Just checked, Schwarzer stayed on.
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martleshamitfc added 19:11 - Sep 24 Good point, all i would say is that we do not have much on the bench to change games, hopefully Lee Martin will make the bench on Tuesday or even Josh Carson to add a bit of pace late on? No reason why we cannot go to Upton Park and get all three points, well done PJ, we look a lot better defensively and still making chances at the other end.
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IvorFeeling added 19:42 - Sep 24 Scratching my head why some would say that against that today's result wasn't a good one! The last time Boro lost at home in the league was Feb 26th to QPR and they currently lie 2nd in the table. Listened on the radio and we seemed to deserve all three. Apart from the result the massive positives are: Clean Sheet and another good performance from Collins and Sonko Passing and movement - whilst I didn't see it, commentary made this obvious Making lots of chances and it will click big time for Chopra soon. Scotland also in great form Bullard, Bowyer and Andrews getting fitter and working as a good unit PJ played the same formation and yes we are starting to Gel (pmason and Jas0999 take note) Get behind the boys!

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Tractamatt added 19:49 - Sep 24 Excellent , well pleased the negative merchants are running out of steam and just babbling,my 21month old niece makes more sense and a more coherent argument.COYB
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ITFC4daprem added 20:05 - Sep 24 great result
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bluearmy4life added 20:13 - Sep 24 Really good point today. Things seem to be clicking in place. Onwards and upwards. COYB.
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warwickblue added 20:14 - Sep 24 Well done Scotland. Well done everyone else. A great point.
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pmason added 20:18 - Sep 24 JEWELL OUT JEWELL OUT JEWELL OUT JEWELL OUT JEWELL OUT JEWELL OUT i recall Keane gettin many draws and people calling for his head ... but now a draw is a great result ? boring
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