Cherries did well to hold free scoring Boro

Eddie Howe had a bitter of a sly smile in his voice when Kris Temple said that's 19 points out of 21 from the last seven games. Indeed, Eddie is pleased to have put that many points on the board in such a short space of time. Yet, one of the most important of those points was probably the Middlesborugh draw in the very last match, as a defeat would have opened up an element of uncertainly as to whether AFCB can really keep the challenge going against the other top teams in the division.

AFCB keep collecting the points.

Comments on social media before the game were strangely not confident of AFCB coming away from Teeside with even a point, but it is hard not to believe that this Cherries side is going to battle right to the end of the season in a promotion push. The side does not seem to be as shacky as it was last season when going away to big grounds. The start of this match did see Boro playing the better football, but before half way through the first half AFCB were coping well and in Eddie Howe's after match comments he added that he felt the Cherries managed to pass the ball with relative ease and was pleased to get the point.

There is a belief that is firmly rooted now in the high league table position. Difficult games are being played out with more confidence and skill now, unlike the Rotherham early season draw. One mistake would have lost the Middlesbrough match, but the back four is a solid unit now and Artur Boruc simply does not like getting beaten. AFCB had three shots on target to Boro's one after 90 minutes and the possession just favoured the Cherries 52 to 48 per cent, so it was no lucky draw.

Middlesbrough had been playing exceptionally well in the run up to the Bournemouth match and having put four past Norwich, AFCB fans should see that a 0-0 draw was a great performance by the team. That the players felt disappointed underlines their desire to not simply try and finish behind Derby this season but to lead the way.

Anthony Vickers' Untypical Boro blog also reviews the match if you would like to see a Boro view of the match.