ENGLAND coach Sven-Goran Eriksson learned little from his Riverside scouting mission as the spectre of Wimbledon loomed large again on Middlesbrough.

The Dons, Boro's conquerors in the third round of this season's Worthington Cup, will be lying in wait once more at Selhurst Park next Tuesday.

This FA Cup fourth-round tie goes to a replay - the winners visit Second Division Wycombe Wanderers - after a turgid tussle last night which provided a thoroughly unedifying spectacle for the watching Eriksson.

The Swede dropped in principally to make a personal check on the form of Paul Ince and Ugo Ehiogu.

But it was something of a wasted journey as the Boro duo toiled with their teammates for the breakthrough that never materialised.

In his role as Boro's head coach, former England boss Terry Venables has encouraged skipper Ince to add more attacking intent to his game and the 33-year-old midfield warhorse has clearly taken the hint.

Ince scarcely missed a chance to charge forward in Saturday's 1-1 home draw with Manchester City, and soon sighted an opening on goal last night.

Under 20 seconds were on the clock when he fastened on to a loose ball to drill a low drive narrowly wide of the left-hand post.

But he was back helping out in defence in the fifth minute when Wimbledon won a corner on the right.

Alan Kimble's inswinger broke to Par Karlsson and it needed a Christian Karembeu block to stop the Swedish midfielder's goalbound shot. Boro, however, should have gone ahead a minute later when Hamilton Ricard's profligacy once again proved a source of frustration for the home fans.

Keith O'Neill hoisted a free-kick to the far post and when £8m defender Ehiogu - as eager as Ince to impress Eriksson - directed his header towards Ricard, the Colombian could only nod over from a great position.

Ricard's petulance then got the better of him when he was booked for kicking the ball away - his fifth caution this season, which rules him out of the home game with Southampton a fortnight on Saturday.

Strike partner Alen Boksic looked more focused on the task in hand. Curtis Fleming's robust challenge left Kimble prostrate, but referee Mike Dean waved play on and when the Boro right-back worked the ball inside to Boksic, the Croatian found the angle too acute and fired into the side-netting.

Mark Schwarzer made an unconvincing save from Dons' right-back Peter Hawkins, whose shot the Boro keeper allowed to slide under his body at the expense of a corner.

Boksic threatened again at the other end with a curling free-kick which was touched wide by keeper Kelvin Davis.

And the Boro marksman headed against a post in first-half stoppage time after Ehiogu had failed to force home O'Neill's right-wing flag-kick.

All in all, however, it was poor fare for a little-more-than half-full Riverside. But the ingenuity and verve of Boksic always promised something better and when he whipped in a telling left-wing centre early in the second half, only a brilliant one-handed save from Davis denied the diving Ricard what would have been a spectacular headed goal.

It was the hapless Colombian's last meaningful contribution, with Venables sending on Andy Campbell in his place in the 65th minute.

Venables threw caution to the howling Teesside wind when he replaced right-back Fleming with attacker Noel Whelan with only 13 minutes left.

But the boos that rang out on the final whistle said it all.

Venables later admitted: "A replay is the last thing we wanted.

"We're disappointed because we know we can play better.

"But we're still in their fighting and maybe we'll end up surprising a few people. I thought Wimbledon deserved what they got. They worked very hard and we knew it would be difficult because they've got a good away record.

"We tried to keep playing football in conditions, with a strong wind, which weren't conducive to it.

"We had a good chance early on when Hamilton Ricard had a header which he should have put away, and their keeper also made an amazing save. I understand that the fans will be frustrated. I think there was a section of the crowd who were frustrated by certain parts of our game - but I don't think that is going to help us.

"The problem is that we're not taking our chances at the moment. I also thought we looked a little tired at times. But we're unbeaten in 11 games now and we just want to keep the run going.''

Wimbledon boss Terry Burton said: "I'm pleased with the performance and delighted with the result. We asked the players to perform against quality opposition. That's what Middlesbrough are because they've got fantastic players.

"We beat them earlier in the season before Terry Venables arrived and I think things are a bit more bubbly here now.''

Burton revealed that John Hartson was ruled out because of a lack of fitness and admitted: "I think the replay might come a shade too soon for him.'