Emerging Leeds midfielder Lee Bowyer was set against an aging Paul Gascoigne – by now returned to England from Rangers – and their physical tussle proved to be the main talking point of a dull meeting on Teesside.

Their personal contest rose to a predictable boil when Gascoigne was booked after reacting to a challenge from Bowyer by elbowing United's midfielder in the face, but a goalless scoreline was an apt result after a game in which neither attack found their feet.

Boro were beset by injuries while Leeds travelled north without the suspended Jimmy Floyd Hasselbaink, and United's best opportunity fell to Harry Kewell whose shot in the first minute was beaten away by Australian goalkeeper Mark Schwarzer.

Clyde Wijnhard also went close with a late back-heel which almost sneaked into the net, but United manager George Graham struggled to draw inspiration from his side's performance after full-time.

"I wasn't satisfied with the result," he said. "Against the side that Boro had out, we should have been more positive, but we lacked the killer punch."

United: Martyn, Haaland, Radebe, Sharpe (Lilley 69), Wijnhard, Bowyer, Hopkin, Kewell, Harte, Martin, Hiden, Molenaar. Subs not used: Beeney, Ribeiro, Wetherall, Granville.

Ends