Blackburn Rovers 0-0 Middlesbrough

Middlesbrough's Spanish striker Kike has scored seven goals this season

Middlesbrough were held to a goalless draw by play-off hopefuls Blackburn.

Boro looked the most likely to open the scoring in a scrappy first half and home keeper Simon Eastwood made good saves from Jelle Vossen and Adam Reach.

Eastwood saved well from Kike after the break before the Spanish striker hit the post from outside the area with Patrick Bamford firing the rebound on to the top of the bar.

Rovers striker Rudy Gestede almost scored a late winner for the hosts.

He powerfully met Craig Conway's corner in stoppage time only for Boro skipper Grant Leadbitter to clear his effort off the line.

With Ipswich not playing until Tuesday, the visitors knew that a win would have taken them into the second automatic promotion place but they struggled to build any real momentum in a fiercely competitive game.

Middlesbrough came close to taking an early lead but Eastwood did well to come off his line and smother Adam Reach's effort.

Rovers, looking for just a second win in six matches, improved as the half progressed and midfielder Ben Marshall went close with a free-kick before Jordan Rhodes saw a looping header graze the crossbar.

However, they were indebted to two fine saves from Eastwood to keep the scores level at the break.

The 25-year-old kept out Vossen's powerful shot before stopping a header from the same player on the goal-line, with Boro boss Aitor Karanka appealing the ball had crossed the line.

Boro introduced Chelsea loanee Bamford as a second-half substitute and he missed his side's best chance when he fired just over after Kike's shot came back to him off the post.

A number of injury stoppages meant that nearly eight minutes of additional time were played at the end of the game with Gestede's header the closest anyone came to winning it.

Blackburn manager Gary Bowyer: "Mr Karanka's just offered me £200m for Eastwood!

"He's done brilliantly for us. He's played two games and we haven't lost so that's something for me to look at.

"I don't think we're getting enough credit for what we're trying to do here. It's a long season and this club has got to get through January, which is a big month for us."

Middlesbrough manager Aitor Karanka: "It should be three points. Again, it's the same story when we play against Blackburn. I've been here for one year and we have played against them three times and three times the man of the match was the keeper. I don't know if it's a coincidence.

"We've not had a lot of chances and haven't played much better than them but we've had three or four clear chances to score today."