Darren England. Referee. From tonight's evidence - likes a card. Looks like Countryfile/The One Show's Matt Baker.

Middlesbrough get the ball into the right channel for Andraz Sporar to chase, and he wins a throw.

Isaiah Jones shows shuffling Michael Flatley Riverdance feet to skin his marker and is in, but Jan Paul van Hecke boots clear.

The corner comes in, drops to Neil Taylor, but the full-back's effort for Boro has a trajectory that worries Thomas Kaminski very little.

John Buckley again threads a pass through and Sam Gallagher sets off but out comes Joe Lumley in sweeper-keeper mode to clear.

Blackburn are winning the midfield, Jonny Howson can't wrest control, and Buckley in particular is stealthily operating in the shadows, between the lines.

Blackburn get a corner which is whipped to the back-post, and Scott Wharton tries to knock it down.

However, his touch nudges the ball into a corridor not occupied by either side and out for a goal kick. Disappointing.

Middlesbrough make a telling contribution to stop Sam Gallagher and Reda Khadra, and look to break...

Ryan Nyambe joins the Boro quartet of bookings with a yellow of his own for impeding Andraz Sporar, who was on the charge for the visitors.

Rovers big stopper Jan Paul van Hecke thumps the ball behind after Isaiah Jones' touch into the box takes the ball away from him.

The subsequent corner is fizzed into a mass of bodies at the far post but a foul was given as the ball came in.

Before that, Tayo Edun and Thomas Kaminski in the Rovers back-line almost got into a pickle, but the bounce was kind as Boro loomed.

Anfernee Dijksteel blocks a Sam Gallagher burst as he's slipped into the box after winning possession high up the pitch, and Boro get the ball clear.

Gallagher by the way has worked really hard so far. Out of possession he's done a man-marking job on Matt Crooks. In possession he's flittered smartly around the box to provide an option.

Kevin Gallacher
Former Blackburn striker on BBC Radio Lancashire

The game's had everything apart from a goal.

Sometimes we see both teams sit back and wait to test each other, but not here.

In the second half it'll be about who wants it that little bit more.

Reda Khadra steps up and bends his free-kick with power just over the bar for Blackburn.

It was right on the edge of the box, so to get it up and down with sufficient pace was always going to be difficult.

Boro for all their possession in their own half, have struggled to make the ball stick up top.

John Buckley has carved his way through the Middlesbrough midfield with a driving run, which Marcus Tavernier curtails just outside the box for a free-kick.

Gets another booking for it too.

Buckley was like a hot knife though butter there. Dangerous set-piece incoming.

Aaron Connolly is the third player into the book for Middlesbrough, this time blocking off John Buckley as he spins into space for Rovers in midfield.

The Brighton loanee was a hot ticket, but he's had little chance to show his attacking prowess so far.

Image source, Getty Images

Bit of flamboyant excitement from Sam Gallagher, as he bicycle-kicks a shot from the edge of the box which forces Boro goalkeeper Joe Lumley into a save.

Great work from the perseverant Ryan Nyambe down the right to get the ball in.

With his socks slung low and his direct style, Blackburn's Reda Khadra is channelling a bit of Stuart Ripley on the right tonight. His crossing's not quite so on-point as the old blonde-haired wideman.

Ripley of course a popular figure with both clubs, and his son Connor played for both too.

Image source, PA Media

Could be a busy night for fourth official Leigh Doughty tonight.

Both Tony Mowbray and Chris Wilder are seasoned gaffers, they will have their thoughts and not be afraid to offer them.

Image source, PA Media

John Buckley has a shot blocked for Rovers after working the ball into position on the edge of the box.

Rovers win the ball in their own half and Reda Khadra is off again, but a swinging cross from the German sails through the box without incident.

Image source, Rex Features

Boro's Joe Lumley shows the value of an alert keeper, as he zooms out of his box to clear after John Buckley had measured a diagonal in behind for the shuttling Reda Khadra.

Nice vision from Buckley. Khadra was scuttling at speed, with a funny-looking - but effective - running style.

Matt Crooks takes one for the team as he chops down Reda Khadra.

A booking for the Boro midfielder.

Matt Crooks is a big old unit and he goes into the Blackburn box under pressure from Sam Gallagher. It's a proper shoulder-to-shoulder job.

In the end, the Boro man wins a corner which Thomas Kaminski beats away. But another testing deep cross is nodded behind by Tayo Edun.

Kaminski though is plucking things out of the air with ease, such as the corresponding corner.

Joe Lumley hacks a clearance away as Jan Paul van Hecke tries to bundle in a header back across goal from Rovers team-mate Sam Gallagher.

Rovers the side in the ascendancy.

Boro had to concede the corner after a raid by Tayo Edun down the left. Isaiah Jones, who'd much rather be tormenting at the other end, had to scamper back to cover and clear.

All-action so far.

Blackburn play a smart ball down the middle for Sam Gallagher who takes it down on his chest, moves the ball onto his right foot and lashes a low skiddy drive.

Joe Lumley sinks down to gather it, taking it easily. Not the most vicious of connections from Gallagher.