MIDDLESBROUGH may have been held to a third successive goalless draw, but boss Tony Mowbray is taking the positives from a record-breaking start.
The stalemate at Reading followed hot on the heels of 0-0 Riverside draws with Ipswich and Leicester.
However, despite that shot-shy stutter at the summit, the Teessiders have been rewriting the history books.
The draw took Boro’s unbeaten start to 10 games and equalled a century-old record set in 1910.
It nudged them past the nine-game modern mark set in 1986-87 when Mowbray was skipper in Bruce Rioch’s side. Boro have also set a new all-time record of six successive away wins, have gone 14 league games unbeaten and clocked up five clean sheets in a row.
However, a demanding Mowbray said: “I am not sure congratulations are in order. We did not win the game and the first half was as poor as we have played all season.
“In the second half we hit the post twice and created a lot of chances and we were the only team who looked likely to score, so we are disappointed. We could have been coming away talking about a seventh successive away win. Some people might be taking the negatives and pointing out we have not scored for three games, but there were three gilt-edge chances to score and on another day they would have gone in.
“We have to take the positives out of it. We have gone ten games unbeaten, that is some achievement, yet there is room for improvement and we all think that.
“The players have worked very hard in those ten games, although we could have had a few more wins.
“We have won five and drawn five and ok, no defeats, and we can take confidence from that.
“We have kept a lot of clean sheets and we can take confidence from that too.”
While Mowbray is taking the positives from the impressive opening, he remains cautious and is not getting carried away.
He added: “They do not dish out any prizes for where you are after ten games.
“The fans were singing about going up. It is a bit early for that, but that shows their belief in the team.
“We have gone ten unbeaten and somewhere along the line we will lose one, that is football.
“The important thing will be to take the confidence and belief we have built up over this start and go on another unbeaten run.”
Reading started well, Adam Le Fondre and Simon Church heading over in early attacks, then twice Stephen McManus had to make blocking tackles to stop shots from Church.
Boro should have scored on 27 minutes when a crisp passing move carved Reading open but Scott McDonald’s low drive was superbly saved by goalkeeper Federici. He then reacted to block a second time when the rebound dropped for Marvin Emnes lashed in an eight yard volley.
The visitors took control after the break and went close on 70 minutes as Barry Robson battled into the box to tee-up McDonald 12 yards out, but his shot was screwed wide of the far post.
Then Boro almost netted on 82 minutes, Robson chipping in for Emnes whose header clipped the post. Then Robson crashed in a sizzling, low 25-yard effort which rattled the foot of the Reading post.
READING: Federici, Cummings, Pearce, Gorkss, Joseph Mills, Robson-Kanu (Manset 74), Tabb, Leigertwood, McAnuff, Le Fondre, Church (Hunt 82). Subs (not used): McCarthy, Karacan, Harte.
MIDDLESBROUGH: Ikeme, Rhys Williams, Bates, McManus, McMahon, Robson, Bailey, Haroun (Thomson 58), Hoyte (Arca 65), Emnes, McDonald (Nimely 80). Subs (not used): Zemmama, Martin.
Booked: McMahon.
Attendance: 17,418 Referee: Anthony Taylor (Cheshire).
