CONFIDENCE BOOST AS

STOKE City couldn't find a breakthrough in a stirring second-half performance that put Championship leaders Middlesbrough on the back foot.

- Peter Smith

Middlesbrough had the better of the first half and felt they should have had a penalty when Tommy Conway went to ground claiming a foul by Ben Pearson. Instead Conway was booked for diving and Stoke breathed a sigh of relief.

But Stoke came out after the break with a whole new spring in their step thanks to the impact of halftime subs Tomas Rigo and Million Manhoef. Rigo was pulling the strings again in central midfield while Sorba Thomas burst to the fore when he switched to the left wing.

The big chances came to Robert Bozenik, who should have marked his first league start with a goal, and Rigo. Bozenik nipped a shot wide when he was well set up by Bosun Lawal while Rigo fluffed his shot when teed up by Thomas.

So it ended 0-0 and Boro remain unbeaten at the top of the table - and Stoke four points behind them and growing in confidence that they deserve to be up there too.

Mark Robins had made five changes to his starting XI. None of the names coming in were a surprise individually but it was a break from the norm from a manager who is used to making tweaks rather than shakeups.