Blackburn Rovers edge past fellow Championship team Middlesbrough
Andi Weimann's second-half strike was enough to see Blackburn Rovers edge past fellow Championship promotion hopefuls Middlesbrough in an uneventful third-round FA Cup tie at the Riverside.
Weimann showed good composure to lash the ball in from 12 yards out with 20 minutes left, just moments after somehow missing a glorious chance from six yards.
Boro had upped the tempo after a dreary first period, in which they came close through a decent Riley McGree shot that was narrowly off target.
But the hosts wasted what few chances they created and rarely threatened to draw level as they failed to prevent Rovers from recording an fourth win in an 11-game unbeaten run at Boro.
An uneventful first half lacking in cohesion and quality, and without an attempt on target, reflected two teams making multiple changes and prioritising their promotion push over an FA Cup run.
But both sides did go close as the opening period drew to a close.
McGree volleyed an effort just wide of debutant keeper Balazs Toth's upright and a Daniel Barlaser strike was deflected behind for a corner for Boro, while Rovers went even closer when Harry Leonard's controlled side-footed volley crashed off the bar.
The tempo and urgency increased in the second period, with Leonard once again going close when his header drifted just wide.
Boro responded and Alex Gilbert ran through on goal but was denied by Toth's fine save and a Barlaser strike skimmed wide from 20 yards.
Weimann then made a complete hash of a wonderful opportunity, shooting over on the stretch following a terrible blunder by keeper Tom Glover.
The miss did not matter, however, as the former Derby County and Aston Villa striker rammed in his sixth goal of the season to send Middlesbrough out at the third-round stage for the third consecutive season - and the fifth time in the past six.
Middlesbrough boss Michael Carrick:
"We're disappointed to lose, and definitely in the way that we did. No goal is a good goal to concede, but that was one I thought we could have done an awful lot more to stop.
"It was a tight game really, with not much in it. There wasn't much of a spark or an attacking threat from either side. It always felt like a game where one goal would decide it. As it turned out, I was disappointed with that.
"We had moments, but we struggled to break them down. A couple of opportunities, but ultimately, we just couldn't find it on the day.
"We just didn't quite have that difference to be a good team. In the end, they found that moment."
Blackburn boss John Eustace:
"Andi's been a top performer for a few years, and he doesn't let anything get him too down. He was disappointed not to have scored earlier, but it's a quality finish for the goal.
"Overall, I thought we were very good. We made some very positive changes, and the boys did really well. We need to be more clinical, of course we do, but we created three or four great moments.
"We're down to the bare bones, but we pride ourselves on being hard to play against, and the clean sheet was well deserved.
"Then at the other end, we played some good football and created some good chances. At times, we played some fantastic stuff, and all round, I was pleased with the performance."
Andi Weiman's winner was his sixth goal of the season
