TRYING to alter Danny Mills' volatile nature is as difficult as asking Manchester United's Roy Keane to adopt a 'pussy cat' style every time he takes to the field.

That is the conclusion Middlesbrough manager Steve McClaren has reached following another Saturday afternoon in which Mills hit the headlines for the wrong reasons.

The committed full back's clash with Charlton's Paolo di Canio is sure to be given close consideration by the Football Association's video advisory panel - much to the annoyance of McClaren. Di Canio was left with blood streaming down his face when Mills' left boot landed on the Italian's face after coming off second best in a shoulder-to-shoulder battle with the Boro star.

Whether Mills meant to stamp on di Canio's face is open to debate, although his fiery temper could have got him into trouble later on in the goalless draw against his old employers.

A couple of confrontations with exciting midfielder Scott Parker and Matt Holland - who accused Mills of putting the 'boot' into di Canio - highlighted the determined style which has endeared him to the Riverside faithful. But now all eyes from Boro will be focused on Soho Square as they wait to see whether Mills, who escaped censure last month over an on-field clash with Wolves' Lee Naylor and Paul Ince, will be charged with violent behaviour.

McClaren, who knows Franck Queudrue was cleared of violent behaviour after the panel recommended he should be charged for his part in the sending off of Southampton's Kevin Phillips in September, has already vented his disapproval this season over trial by video.

But the Boro boss remains a big fan of Mills' battling spirit and he insists he is not about to demand changes from the England defender, who is on loan from Leeds until the end of the campaign.

"Danny sometimes steps over the line with his aggression," said McClaren. "But his behaviour has been impeccable since he's been here. He's become a crowd favourite.

"People love his commitment and the way he plays. He gets stuck in every game, we love it the fans love it. That's the attitude he has and he has added a lot to our football club.

"It's the same with any international player of that nature. He's got plenty of fight and I believe Danny's well on the way to controlling that.

"We've had a video panel before and everyone knows my views on video panels. We'll just have to wait and see."

Boro goalkeeper Mark Schwarzer was the nearest man to the incident and even he insists he was not in a position to pass comment.

At first the home supporters jeered as di Canio lay on the floor holding his face midway through the first half.

Schwarzer said: "I think he dived earlier in the game and that was clear for everyone to see, which didn't help him and that's why the fans reacted like that. Sometimes players get away with it and that is part of the game.

"I didn't see anything in the challenge with Danny. I saw it but I didn't see anything in it.

"I thought he had kept the ball in play on his own. The next thing I saw there was blood streaming down di Canio's face.

"So obviously he had been caught. But I don't think there was any malice in it. That's all I can say."

The flashpoint actually took the focus away from another day in which Boro's forwards failed to make the most of a superb defensive display from a resolute backline deprived of the influence of Colin Cooper.

Cooper, out through illness, was replaced by Chris Riggott at the heart of the defence and he gave an assured performance to provide McClaren with plenty of food for thought ahead of this weekend's trip to Birmingham.

Riggott helped Boro break a 28-year-old record by securing their seventh consecutive top-flight clean sheet and ensured they extended their unbeaten run to nine matches.

But, while it is now 11 hours and 15 minutes since the Teessiders conceded a goal, it is the same old story at the opposite end.

Massimo Maccarone and Szilard Nemeth, who replaced Michael Ricketts and Juninho in attack, started as though they had a point to prove.

Maccarone had two great opportunities to give Boro the early breakthrough they craved.

First his volley was expertly saved by goalkeeper Dean Kiely then he hit the foot of the post after Bolo Zenden had played him in from the left, although the linesman dubiously raised his flag for offside.

Kiely denied Gaizka Mendieta a goal when the Spaniard's free-kick was saved, with Chris Perry superbly blocking Queudrue's follow up shot.

After that Nemeth and Maccarone's contributions faded considerably and it was no surprise when Ricketts was introduced in the second half.

The former Bolton man had one effort saved and that followed a tame Zenden effort which failed to trouble Kiely.

Boro could have lost had it not been for the expertise of Schwarzer. The Aussie, whose handling throughout was first class, superbly tipped over a stinging volley from Graham Stuart.

That preserved a point for Boro, whose forwards have now gone 12 hours and 44 minutes without scoring from open play.

Result: Middlesbrough 0 Charlton Athletic 0.

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