Maccarone powerless in Premiership no-man's-land

Southampton 0 Middlesbrough

The summer may have intervened but the new season saw little change for these similar sides. Yesterday at the St Mary's Stadium, they became locked in a wholly predictable stalemate.

It was fitting that the clubs should meet on the first day, having finished at the end of the last shadowing each other with identical home-and-away records in victories, defeats and draws, plus safe but none-too-promising final totals of 55 points. Yesterday, though, Boro were disadvantaged by the absence of Juninho, because of his cruciate ligament problem, and the defender Franck Queudrue.

Southampton were unexpectedly able to include last season's top scorer, Marian Pahars, who had endured a hernia operation and not played in any of the pre-season friendlies. Indeed, Southampton coach Gordon Strachan said he had only told the Latvian he was playing shortly before kick-off and "his jaw dropped in surprise". But, of course, there was one notable absent friend: their most magical pied piper, Matt Le Tissier, now in retirement.

With rumours of an offer being made to Leeds United for their goalkeeper Nigel Martyn – firmly discounted, incidentally, by Terry Venables – Southampton's Paul Jones may nevertheless have felt under threat. Within three minutes he was doing his cause a power of good with an effective interception to deny Boro's £8.15 million record signing, Massimo Maccarone, whose speed was immediately impressive and a test for Claus Lundekvam and Paul Williams.

Only 14 minutes had passed when Boro had to forgo the services of David Murphy, a leg injury forcing them to bring Colin Cooper into midfield, where Fabrice Fernandes ensured Southampton maintained the upper hand in a far-from-handsome tussle.

Despite his lack of practice, Pahars was Southampton's most likely provider of a goal. He curled a clever shot on to the top of the net and just failed to control a ball chipped forward with Boro goalkeeper Mark Schwarzer in a panic. Anders Svensson could not quite pull back another ball lofted over the defence, and generally Boro were defensively solid but uninspired going forward.

Maccarone spent most of his time looking like a sapling struggling in the shadows of Southampton's two sturdy central defensive oaks. Lundekvam, particularly, gave him an uncomfortable introduction to Premiership football. Even so, the Italy international looked a threat when he moved wide and sent over a couple of dangerous low centres.

Much of the game, though, was mired in earnest negation. Only when Wayne Bridge began to make haste down the left did Southampton look seriously determined, but James Beattie and Jo Tessem, who replaced the tiring Pahars, rarely gained possession thanks to the close attention of their markers, Ugo Ehiogu and Gareth Southgate.

The best strike of the day was a long time in coming and, when the question was put, Schwarzer had the answer. Fernandes, peripheral yet neat amid the industry, sent the ball forward and Svensson dived to head strongly, forcing a fine save from the Australian.

To the derision of the home crowd, with their predictable chant of "What a waste of money", Maccarone found himself substituted. He will have more productive days, but the immediate prospects for both teams look little better than last season. The skills of Juninho are urgently needed by Boro, while Southampton yearn for the wizardry of Le Tissier in his prime.

Southampton 0 Middlesbrough 0

Half-time: 0-0 Attendance: 28,341