Relegation-battling Blackburn held promotion-chasing Middlesbrough to a goalless draw at Ewood Park.
Kim Hellberg’s Boro dominated the entire match against a resolute Blackburn defence but lacked a clinical final touch to beat Balazs Toth, who made multiple saves for the hosts.
Blackburn remained 19th in the table whilst Middlesbrough stayed second after Ipswich played out a 1-1 draw against Millwall.
With third-placed Ipswich at home to fourth-placed Millwall simultaneously, Middlesbrough began their game knowing that victory or a draw coupled with Millwall win would see them go into the international break with promotion in their hands heading into the run-in.
Blackburn though had claimed a shock win at Millwall last weekend and laid out their defensive stall with a series of early clearances, whilst Tommy Conway fumbled control of a 12th-minute pass from David Strelec yards from goal much to Boro’s frustrations.
Aidan Morris then fired into the right-side netting a minute later before Alan Browne saw a shot saved by Balazs Toth as Boro continued to enjoy most of the chances in a dominant first half, whilst Ryoya Morishita produced Blackburn’s only notable attacking effort on goal.
Blackburn eventually kept their visitors out come half time with a series of saves from Toth as Boro slipped to third in the live table on goal difference at that point, after Ipswich took a 41st-minute lead against Millwall through Jack Clarke.
The second half continued in the same vein as the first half with Boro comfortably on top but unable to find a clinical final touch to their end product, as Morris saw a 58th-minute shot saved by Toth.
Blackburn continued to mount a resilient defensive display as a defender blocked Browne’s 85th-minute shot on a Boro counter-attack, but Boro ultimately couldn’t break their defence down.
Ipswich however missed a chance to climb above Middlesbrough in the table after ex Boro player, Josh Coburn rescued Millwall a point at Portman Road.
What’s Next?
Blackburn visit Birmingham City at St Andrew’s on Good Friday 3 April at 3pm BST, broadcast live on Sky Sports+ in the UK.
Middlesbrough face a crucial showdown against Millwall at the Riverside Stadium on Good Friday 3 April in a 12:30pm BST kick-off, live on ITV1, ITVX, and Sky Sports Football in the UK.
Teams
Blackburn: Balazs Toth, Tom Atcheson, Sean McLoughlin, Eiran Cashin, Ryan Alebiosu, Taylor Gardner-Hickman, Adam Forshaw, Yuri Ribeiro (Pickering 64′), Ryoya Morishita, Moussa Baradji (Cantwell 64′), Mathias Jorgensen (Ohashi 75′)
Substitutes: Oladapo Afolayan, Todd Cantwell, Dion De Neve, Valentin Joseph, Yuki Ohashi, Aynsley Pears, Harry Pickering, Frank Vare, Scott Wharton
Middlesbrough: Sol Brynn, Callum Brittain, Luke Ayling (Castledine 68′), Adilson Malanda, Matt Targett, Aidan Morris, Alan Browne, Dael Fry, Riley McGree, David Strelec, Tommy Conway
Substitutes: Alex Bangura, Leo Castledine, George Edmundson, Alex Gilbert, Sontje Hansen, Cruz Ibeh, Jeremy Sarmiento, Kaly Sene, Joe Wildsmith
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