Chelsea failed in their bid to go top of the Premiership despite a late rally at Middlesbrough last night.

Gianluca Vialli's side had to make do with a point after a goal-less draw in which they were second best for long periods.

But Gianfranco Zola may live to regret the 74th-minute shot he hit straight at goalkeeper Mark Schwarzer after being sent clear by skipper Dennis Wise.

After a largely uneventful first half it was Middlesbrough who turned the screw, striker Hamilton Ricard shooting over with just goalkeeper Ed De Goey to beat after Michael Duberry gifted him possession just 15 yards out.

Middlesborough will feel that they should have had more than a point to show for their efforts, but both Manchester United and Arsenal will be more than satisfied with the result.

And while Vialli's strike partnership of Tore Andre Flo and Zola may have struck fear into the hearts of the home supporters as they ran out, it was Brian Deane and Ricard who looked the more potent before the break, although Duberry, in for Frank Leboeuf, turned in a solid first-half display at the heart of the Chelsea defence.

Chances were few and far between and neither goalkeeper had a serious save to make before the break, although De Goey looked on anxiously as Duberry's header from a Dean Gordon cross looped over him and the crossbar with 13 minutes gone, but it was not until the closing moments of the half that the tempo increased.

Stockdale shot high and wide after creating space for himself and Deane headed straight at De Goey from Gianluca Festa's late cross.

Gustavo Poyet sent a volley a couple of feet wide in the dying seconds but neither set of supporters had any real reason to get excited.

Referee Neale Barry was the busiest man on the pitch at times and he produced the yellow card three times, booking Festa and Keith O'Neill for Middlesbrough and Chelsea's Marcel Desailly.

Roberto Di Matteo replaced Petrescu at the break as the visitors looked for a spark, but it was their opponents who came out with all guns blazing.

Gordon almost caught out De Goey with a cross from the left and Deane shot into the side-netting after Stockdale picked him out with a near-post cross. But Bryan Robson's side should have gone ahead on 61 minutes after Duberry's mis-kick left Ricard with a clear run on goal. The Colombian had just De Goey to beat from 15 yards but blasted his volley high over the bar.

Deane and Gordon both had good opportunities from headers in a flurry of activity and Stockdale could not keep his 69th-minute shot down after Deane headed back O'Neill's cross.

But Chelsea finally rediscovered their attacking prowess. Jody Morris, on for Poyet, found Flo in acres of space on the left with 73 minutes gone and he turned Gary Pallister inside out before crossing just too high for Goldbaek at the far post.

Seconds later Wise split the Middlesbrough defence to put Zola in on goal but the little Italian smashed his shot against Schwarzer's legs.

Middlesbrough: Schwarzer, Stockdale, Festa, Cooper, Pallister, Gordon, Mustoe, Townsend, O'Neill (Maddison 83), Ricard, Deane. Subs Not Used: Vickers, Beresford, Armstrong, Summerbell. Booked: Festa, O'Neill, Gordon.

Chelsea: De Goey, Ferrer, Duberry, Desailly, Le Saux, Petrescu (Di Matteo 46), Poyet (Morris 59), Wise, Goldbaek, Flo, Zola. Subs Not Used: Hitchcock, Lambourde, Forssell. Booked: Desailly, Goldbaek, Ferrer.

Referee: N Barry (Scunthorpe).