A lack of clear opportunities has ensured that the first half between Middlesbrough and Nottingham Forest ended goalless.

Forest started brightly and could have been ahead early on when Jamaal Lascelles connected with Djamel Abdoun's corner at the back post, but he failed to hit the target with his header.

Lacelles was then forced to make a vital contribution in his own box to make sure that a Mustapha Carayol's header did not cross the line.

Clear chances proved to be rare following a lively opening to the first half and Simon Cox was made to regret heading straight at Dimitrios Konstantopoulos with just over 10 minutes remaining until the break.

Konstantopoulos was forced into action once more before the interval to keep out a low strike from Abdoun.