Aitor Karanka's Middlesbrough side have missed the chance to go two points ahead of their closest Championship rivals by failing to find the net at home to Fulham.

David Nugent thought that he had given Boro the lead with 10 minutes remaining in the opening half, but his strike was disallowed for offside.

Former West Ham United winger Stewart Downing then led the home fans to believes that he had opened the scoring, but his 30-yard effort rippled the net above the crossbar.

Albert Adomah, who replaced Carlos de Pena with half an hour of the tie left to play, then tested Fulham keeper Andy Lonergan after being set up by Nugent.

Fulham's best effort in the second period came when Ross McCormack smashed an attempt at Boro keeper Dimitrios Konstantopoulos, whose one-handed save kept his side level.

Karanka's side remain in second spot in the table, level on points with Reading, Birmingham City and Burnley.