Middlesbrough 1-1 Blackburn Rovers

Rudy Gestede has scored 11 goals in 18 appearances this season

Rudy Gestede scored a controversial injury-time goal to ensure Blackburn shared the spoils with Middlesbrough.

Boro's Albert Adomah went close after keeper Simon Eastwood spilled Patrick Bamford's shot and Jelle Vossen's follow-up was cleared off the line.

Eastwood produced a remarkable point-blank save from a Vossen header before Bamford beat him with a deflected shot.

But Gestede fired home to equalise, despite Boro's claims that keeper Dimi Konstantopoulos had been fouled.

Middlesbrough manager Aitor Karanka was sent to the stands for arguing with officials as Konstantopoulos received treatment following the incident.

Despite the draw, both sides remain in the play-off places, with Boro slipping back two spots to fifth following wins for Ipswich Town and Brentford.

Gestede's equaliser extended Blackburn's unbeaten run to nine matches.

Boro made a bright start with Vossen nodding wide before Grant Leadbitter tested Rovers' keeper from distance.

Shane Duffy ensured the scores remained level by getting back to deny Vossen after Eastwood failed to control Bamford's bending effort from the edge of the area.

Eastwood, making his first start of the season, foiled Bamford twice more in the first half as Vossen was also kept out by the the 25-year-old keeper.

Daniel Ayala, with his head bandaged following an aerial clash with Gestede, went close as he glanced a header wide from a Leadbitter corner.

The closest Rovers came to scoring was Duffy's diving clearance in defence which hit the side netting of his own goal.

At the other end, the only work home goalkeeper Konstantopoulos had to do before the break was gather a tame overhead kick from Jordan Rhodes early on.

After Bamford resumed his battle with Eastwood with the first chance of the second half, Konstantopoulos had his first serious save to make as Ben Marshall cut inside to shoot.

Vossen was then sensationally denied after meeting a George Friend cross and Lee Tomlin became the next to be foiled by Rovers' inspired keeper.

However, Eastwood was eventually beaten by Bamford with the help of a deflection after the on-loan Chelsea striker latched onto a loose ball in the box as the visitors failed to clear a corner.

But the late drama on 94 minutes ensured Rovers left the Riverside with a point.

Middlesbrough manager Aitor Karanka:

"It's very frustrating. I would like to apologise because my behaviour was not good and Middlesbrough Football Club deserves better from me.

"But it was tough to take because we had worked so hard for 92, 93 minutes and what we had worked so hard for was almost in our grasp.

"I was sent to the stands for pushing the fourth official but I was arguing with him, not touching him.

"I thought the goal should have been disallowed for a foul on the keeper."

Blackburn manager Gary Bowyer:

"I only saw the equaliser in real time. There was some commotion about it in real time and I saw Boro weren't happy about it but I wasn't concentrating on their goalkeeper. I was concentrating on the ball going into the back of the net."

"The resilience and character of our side was great.

"We had the first chance and we hit the post late on and we got the benefit of our never-say-die attitude."

World Cup champion and Middlesbrough's Brazilian great Juninho made an appearance at the Riverside

Rudy Gestede had suffered a heavy knock to the head in the first half

Middlesbrough goalkeeper Dimitrios Konstantopoulos injures his back in the dramatic final minutes against Blackburn