Middlesbrough 0-0 Blackburn Rovers: Boro winning streak comes to an end
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Aynsley Pears denied Riley McGree in a game of few clear-cut chances
Middlesbrough and Blackburn fought out a goalless draw in the Championship - a result that helped neither side.
The result left Rovers manager John Eustace still seeking his first win after nine games in charge, while Boro's failure to score ended their three-match winning streak.
Marcus Forss missed Boro's best chance in the first half but limped off with what looked like a hamstring injury, while Isaiah Jones was denied a late winner when his shot hit the crossbar.
Rovers remain deep in relegation trouble, just three points above the drop zone, and they missed a chance to get a huge win when Scott Wharton's second-half header led to a huge goalmouth scramble which Boro finally cleared.
Both teams really needed the victory - Boro to keep up the momentum of their outside challenge for a top-six place, nicely set up by wins over Norwich, QPR and Birmingham.
Blackburn are trying to keep in front of the relegation pack after just one win in their previous 16 league games.
Despite the scoreline it was not a dour encounter, with both teams creating chances right from the first whistle, when Boro striker Emmanuel Latte Lath forced returning Rovers keeper Aynsley Pears to save with his feet, and at the other end Championship top scorer Sammie Szmodics was denied by Seny Dieng.
The best chance of the first half fell to Forss, who was on the end of Luke Ayling's flicked header but could only shoot across the face of goal.
Rovers, who have now drawn seven and lost two since Eustace took over from Jon Dahl Tomasson last month, pushed for a winner in the second half as Sam Gallagher again forced Dieng to be alert, Szmodics headed Harry Pickering's free kick over and no-one could force the ball over the line in an almighty melee in the Boro box with 14 minutes left.
Boro also had a huge chance late in the game as winger Jones crashed a shot against the underside of the bar and substitute Sam Silvera, with the goal gaping in front of him, missed his kick from the rebound.
Following Norwich's 3-0 victory at Stoke which took them sixth in the table, Middlesbrough are now seven points outside the play-off places.
Middlesbrough manager Michael Carrick told BBC Radio Tees:
"We're disappointed not to win the game. We saw it as an opportunity today to make a jump, make a bit of difference, and we didn't manage to take it.
"We played okay in many parts, but didn't have enough to finish off the chances created.
"The game just drifted along after (the Marcus Forss injury). We'll have to assess it and hopefully it's not too bad.
"We started the second half alright and finished it with a couple of chances at the end that didn't go our way, and that was the story of the game.
Blackburn manager John Eustace told BBC Radio Lancashire:
"I thought we were outstanding. Without the ball we were very good. We've had a really good week on the training field and I'm disappointed we didn't win the game.
"We showed great character at difficult moments. I'm delighted we didn't lose, but it's another draw and I want more wins.
"The character and commitment the group showed was there for all to see and we've been unfortunate not to win more games."