QPR were denied in the last two minutes of added time by a penalty that also saw Leroy Fer red carded after he handballed on the line.

Grant Leadbetter sent Rob Green the wrong way for the winning spot-kick - and no one in away blue could complain at the decision - but the result?

Rs were stubborn to the point of brilliant in an obdurate sort of way. But not even the excellence of Nedum Onuoha and Grant Hall in defence saw Rs denied a break.

In truth, this game had stalemate riven through it like a stick of rock, until Fer stuck out an elbow to an overhead from Daniel Ayala, although it needed eagle eyed assistant to call the 12-yarder.

Before that, Matt Phillips swung a massive boot at QPR's best chance of the game - and the second-half chance disappeared into a cold Teesside night.

Nearly: Matt Phillips

The makeshift striker, in for an injured Charlie Austin, brilliantly ran beyond the last man, and then took his eye off the ball to connect with very fresh air.

Hall was a coat of Brylcreem from glancing home a header, and Fer weakly connected with a shot set up by Phillips.

The first half was even worse. It started like an old banger in winter and barely got out of gear for the first 10 minutes.

But Boro looked the more likely as the game warmed up.

Solid: Nedum Onuoha

Runs down the channel stretched the away defence, and Onuoha showed why he could have been an athletics talent when he sprinted back to nick the ball off David Nugent's's toe about to pull the trigger.

Nugent was again left frustrated - this time by the post - as Albert Adomah stole a yard down the left; centred low for the Boro striker to touch it on to the far post for Green to grab gratefully as the ball rolled back across the line and into his gloves.

Rangers rarely threatened, and it was in the last minute they won a corner that came to nothing.

Nothing was the cruel theme at 95 minutes. Nothing has been the name of the points game over the last five as Rs need a new permanent manager more than ever.