Blackburn Rovers 0-0 Middlesbrough: Neil Warnock's Boro extend unbeaten run
- Published
Neil Warnock's Middlesbrough have conceded just five goals from 10 Championship games
Middlesbrough extended their unbeaten Championship run to nine games but were made to settle for a draw at Blackburn.
Neil Warnock's visitors dominated the first half, Britt Assombalonga missing their best chance when he headed over from close range at the back post from a corner.
Rovers made last-ditch blocks to thwart efforts from Djed Spence and Hayden Coulson and did improve after the interval.
They came close when Joe Rankin-Costello's cross just evaded Ben Brereton and Sam Gallagher, but Boro had 20 efforts on goal in all and should have won - Jonny Howson and Marcus Tavernier denied by Aynsley Pears before Dael Fry nodded Paddy McNair's corner wide.
The point moves Middlesbrough up to fifth, while Tony Mowbray's Blackburn drop to 15th, six points further back.
Rovers are the Championship's highest scorers but were without injured talisman Adam Armstrong, who has nine goals from nine league games this season.
Brereton, Gallagher and on-loan Liverpool forward Harvey Elliott led the line in his absence but Rovers managed just one shot on target despite matching Boro for possession.
Boro had some joy from set-pieces but failed to test their former keeper Pears enough, and have now scored just two goals in their past six league trips to Ewood Park.
Blackburn boss Tony Mowbray told BBC Radio Lancashire:
"Let's hope there are not many games like that the rest of the season.
"For us, the signs are there of low confidence and an unbalanced team. No left-sided balance, no defensive midfielder.
"It wasn't nice to watch, I didn't enjoy it. Let's take the point, put it in the bank and move on.
"We could've easily lost it, but we could've won it 1-0. It's football."
Middlesbrough manager Neil Warnock told BBC Tees:
"We've played some good stuff tonight, I am disappointed but I'm pleased in a way because we are growing up and we are maturing as a team.
"We're enjoying it. You could see the lads enjoying the battle, it was a different type of game. It could have been a banana skin but the attitude was super.
"The only regret was not getting three points but that's the Championship, if you don't win you've got to make sure you come away with a point.
"All credit to Blackburn they got their tackles and blocks in, Tony Mowbray will be delighted with a point."