Blackburn closer to a second.

The ball works to Adam Armstrong down the left, and he teases his way into the box, before sliding a ball across the six-yard box.

It's held up in the area before Sam Gallagher steams in to meet it but can only sky it over the bar.

Neil Warnock said in midweek he turned to his coaches inside the first couple of minutes and said - "We'll be alright tonight".

I doubt he'd have said the same here. It was their invention and intent that brought them reward at Forest.

Twenty minutes to fix it up here.

Image source, Rex Features

That goal has given Blackburn renewed zest, just minutes after they were almost opened up themselves.

Some lovely football though. Scalpel-like precision to cut the Teessiders defence to ribbons.

The disapproving sneer on the face of Harvey Elliott tells you how narked he was about being subbed.

To be fair the change was in motion before the goal.

Elliott is off, as is the scorer Joe Rothwell and Joe Buckley

Sam Gallagher, Bradley Dack and Ben Brereton are on.

It was Jonny Howson who angled his header across goal before. Cracking run and strong header.

Tony Mowbray and former Ipswich centre-half team-mate Mark Venus deep in conversation on the bench just before, presumably planning the fish and chip order for the bus home.

Bradley Dack preparing to come on for Rovers.

Closest we've come! Boro inches away...

Paddy McNair's corner is a beauty, and is guided towards goal but Thomas Kaminski beats it away.

Nathan Wood follows up the rebound but strikes the post.

Image source, Rex Features

Everything suggested the free-kick would be rattled in but it's not.

Blackburn dink a curler to the back-post for Darragh Lenihan to nod back across goal but Marc Bola nudges it away.

The subsequent corner could have been turned in by any of three Rovers players but they all outran the ball.

Rovers break up a Boro attack and stream forward with Lewis Travis, who is scythed down by Sam Morsy - who gets a booking for it.

It had looked dangerous until Travers snapped it up.

Free-kick...

Image source, Rex Features

It's been a lonely start to the second-half for Adam Armstrong but there's clear evidence of his threat as he holds the ball up and turns away from Nathan Wood.

Rovers trying to bring their skillsters into the game, Harvey Elliott surges forward but has his wings clipped by George Saville.

Djed Spence and Marcus Tavernier are leading Rovers a merry dance down the right, combining to open up space and create chances.

The Teessiders just can't quite get the telling chance away, as the ball is worked to the left of the box but just behind Marc Bola.

Marcus Tavernier and Djed Spence combine again for Boro down the right, but Spence can only drill a cross-cum-shot at Thomas Kaminski.

Rovers can't the ball clear as Boro pour forward again but Sam Morsy's is easily fielded by Kaminski.

Marcus Tavernier cuts in off the right and snaps a low drive at the Rovers goal which is turned behind by Thomas Kaminski.

He then curls wide shortly after.

It was all created by Boro from aggressive driving forward by Djed Spence, backpedalling the Blackburn defence.

Boro fashion a chance, a super chance but noone there to attack it.

Jonny Howson drives down the right and wraps his foot round the ball, curling it tantalisingly to the back post where it is cleared.

Rovers survive the subsequent raid, Darragh Lenihan powering his clearance away.

Blackburn were out a bit earlier than Boro, who finally filter out of the tunnel to the sounds of Pigbag.

One of the great football soundtracks. Better with fans in obviously.

Anyway, we're off and away for the second-half. Boro getting us going.

How would you liven this up?

Looking at the benches, Boro have pace and skill in Patrick Roberts or Marvin Johnson.

Blackburn might turn to the class of Bradley Dack or Tyrhys Dolan.

Let's hope we get some excitement.

Just looking at the stats. One shot on target.

Surely we deserve better than this?

Blackburn are the Championship's leading scorers and Boro have found their goal-den touch of late.

Must do better second-half, please.

It's fair to say the Preston-Reading game earlier was not a classic.

But, if you're still curious to find out what happened, here's your chance.

Image source, Rex Features

So a goalless first half means three of the Championship's four halves of football today have had nowt to show for it goal-wise.

Boro feel they should have had a penalty as Jarrad Branthwaite caught Dael Fry high with his boot, forcing the centre-half off with a bloodied wound.

Otherwise, a Britt Assombalonga free-kick for Boro, and a dragged-wide effort from Rovers striker Adam Armstrong the best we can call on.

Teessiders boss Neil Warnock, for just a moment at half-time, looked like he was about to approach the ref like an angry father awaiting his daughter's cheating boyfriend... I think he composed himself though in the end.

Boro release Djed Spence after interplay between Sam Morsy and Britt Assombalonga, he's right side of the box but a challenge from Joe Rothwell sees his shot sizzle behind.

The corner comes to nothing.