Boro were frustrated in their search for a match-winner as Norwich City battled to a goalless draw at the Riverside.
There were chances at both ends in a hard-fought encounter, but neither goalkeeper would be beaten.
The result means Boro head into next Saturday’s trip to Coventry City needing a win to keep any hopes of reaching the play-off alive.
Possession
51%Shots
10Shots On Target
4Corners
3Fouls
141
0
Cards
1
0
Dael Fry and Kelechi Iheanacho were introduced to the Boro line-up in place of Rav van den Berg and Marcus Forss.
It would prove to be a first half largely devoid of goalmouth action, although Iheanacho had an early strike saved and a sweet hit by Hayden Hackney was tipped wide.
At the other end, Jacob Wright fired not far over from 25 yards for the visitors, while Fry was on form to snuff out a number of potentially dangerous moments.
Boro built some momentum in the closing stages of the half and were unfortunate not to take the lead when Finn Azaz was denied by an excellent block from Callum Doyle.
Moments later, Aidan Morris wriggled free in the box and forced a low save from Gunn, who pushed it past his post.
Tommy Conway’s header from an Azaz free-kick was superbly kept out by Gunn on the stroke of half-time as we went in at the break level.
Middlesbrough: Travers, Dijksteel, Fry, Howson, Iling-Junior (Giles 78'), Hackney, Morris, Whittaker (Burgzorg 78'), Iheanacho (Forss 61'), Azaz, Conway
Subs: Barlaser, Burgzorg, Forss, Glover, Edmundson, Lenihan, Giles, Neto Borges, McCabe
Norwich: Gunn, McConville (Sørensen 74'), Duffy, Doyle (Córdoba 74'), McLean, Wright (Forson 88'), Ben Slimane (Gibbs 61'), Stacey, Núñez (Schwartau 74'), Sainz, Sargent
Subs: Gibbs, Forson, Sørensen, Hernández, Schwartau, Córdoba, Reyes, Myles, Jones
The first sight of goal in the second half went the way of the visitors, with Borja Sainz whipping a shot narrowly beyond the upright from 20 yards.
Just beyond the hour, Mark Travers saved comfortably from Liam Gibbs, and then he made a tremendous double-stop from Sainz and Josh Sargent to again deny the Canaries.
Boro almost immediately took full advantage of the double save as they attacked with vigour.
Conway had an effort blocked and after the Teessiders kept the play alive, Morris scampered into the area and saw a low strike tipped onto the post by Gunn.
There was another opening for Conway when Azaz found him down the left, but Gunn was again on hand to save at his near post.
Boro survived a scare with 12 minutes left as Sargent clipped the outside of the post for the away side while at the other end, substitute Marcus Forss was denied by a superb tackle.
