Leicester City's goal crazy start to the season ended with a 0-0 draw against Championship favourites Middlesbrough at the Walkers Stadium but it wasn't for the want of trying.

After twelve goals in two games, neither side could find a way through, but Boro goalkeeper Jason Steele made a string of very good saves to ensure that Gordon Strachan's side went away with a point.

Steve Howard's header that cannoned off the bar, and a DJ Campbell header that went just wide were the closest City came to scoring an all important goal.

Paulo Sousa made five changes from the side that started the 4-3 win over Macclesfield Town in the Carling Cup on Tuesday night. Most were predictable with Weale, Berner, Dyer and King returning to the side, perhaps the only surprise was up-front where Matty Fryatt had to be content with a place on the bench.

Leicester's earliest opportunities came from set pieces, and they went closes in the eighth minute through Steve Howard. DJ Campbell forced the corner with a deflected shot, and from the resultant corner, Howard thundered a header against the cross bar.

At the other end Jack Hobbs twice had to be at his best to keep Middlesbrough from threatening the City goal. First he slid in to deny Kris Boyd, after the Scotsman looked to be through on goal. Just a couple of minutes later it was Scott McDonald who threatened for Boro, again Hobbs timed his tackle to perfection to keep the visitors at bay.

When Middlesbrough did get a shot away they went close to taking a seventeenth minute lead. A mazy run by promising midfielder Luke Williams ended in the teenager shooting just wide of the post.

Richie Wellens will have felt he could have done better with a close range effort mid-way through the first half. Some excellent closing down by Lloyd Dyer, allowed him to cross for Wellens who couldn't get much on his shot.

Leicester's best spell of the game came just after the half hour, when DJ Campbell burst into life. First a free-kick was tipped over by Steele, then the Boro keeper made a good low save from his right footed shot.

Campbell then turned provider for City with a perfectly placed through ball finding King who rounded the keeper, only for the offside flag to deny the Welshman a third goal in a week,

Six minutes before the break a Matt Oakley free kick caused havoc in the Boro penalty area, and Nicky Bailey had to hook the ball out for a corner with Jack Hobbs shaping to shoot. From the corner that followed Steve Howard went close with a header.

After the break Middlesbrough started the second half brightly, Nicky Bailey's left wing free kick was well saved by Weale, with the Foxes' goalkeeper having to peer through a crowd to see the ball. Bailey then crossed for McDonald but the former Celtic man headed over from ten yards out.

Jason Steele had to be alert in the Middlesbrough goal soon after that, Oakley's inswinging free kick had to be fisted away by the young keeper, with Steve Howard in close company.

After the hour Leicester had a sustained spell of pressure on the Middlesbrough goal and twice went close to taking the lead in the space of five minutes. First Lloyd Dyer's right wing cross was headed inches wide by DJ Campbell at the back post, then Steve Howard forced Steele into a good save, tipping his curling effort away for a corner.

Boro went close twelve minutes from the end, when the ball broke to Gary O'Neil, his volley went close but just went over the bar.

Leicester introduced Michael Lamey for a debut ten minutes before the end, along with Matty Fryatt as City searched for a winner.

But it was the visitors who went closest next, Middlesbrough broke forward and found Scott McDonald on the right hand side, his drilled low effort was kept out by Weale, denying the Scotsman his third goal of the season.

In the final stages City went close from another set piece, Lamey and Fryatt tried to bundle the ball home but Boro managed to scramble it clear, as City ended the afternoon frustrated.

City: Weale - Neilson, Hobbs, Moreno, Berner - King, Oakley, Wellens - Campbell, Howard, Dyer
Subs: Logan, Kennedy, Lamey (for Neilson, 80), Morrison, N'Guessan, Gallagher (for King, 74), Fryatt (for Campbell, 80)

Booked: Howard (46), Moreno (76)

'Boro: Steele, Hoyte, Bates, Wheater, McManus, Williams, Thomson, Robson, Bailey, Boyd, McDonald
Subs: Coyne, Lita (for Thomson, 70), Miller, Arca, Kink (for Boyd, 85), O'Neil (for Williams, 46), Hines

Booked: Bates (32), McManus (45), O'Neil (69)

Attendance: 21, 587