Blackburn Rovers and Middlesbrough played out a goalless draw in their Championship clash as neither side were able to take their chances at Ewood Park.
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Aitor Karanka's men could have taken the lead early in the game when Adam Reach raided into the penalty area, but as he was about to pull the trigger Simon Eastwood spread himself big to gather the ball at his feet.
Rovers responded and came close as they won a corner and Craig Conway's delivery from the right was good enough to pick out Ben Marshall, but the midfielder guided his header wide of the target.
Marshall went close again for Gary Bowyer's side as his free kick from just outside the box looked to be heading into the bottom corner before Dimitrios Konstantopoulos palmed the ball wide of the target.
Boro hit back with a good opportunity as Kike raided into the penalty area, but his strike from a tight angle was well saved by Eastwood at his near post.
The visitors were denied the lead just before the break as Eastwood made a fingertip stop to keep Reach's powerful drive out of the net, tipping his strike onto the post, while Rovers managed to hack away the rebound.
In the second half, Boro pressed forward again as Grant Leadbitter released the run of Kike through the middle, but the striker's low effort towards the bottom corner was well saved by Eastwood.
The Spaniard went close again late in the game as his low strike hit the foot of the post, while Patrick Bamford's effort on the follow up went over the bar.
Both teams were pushing for the win and Conway was denied a goal at the other end when Konstantopoulos made an outstanding block to deny the midfielder.
Rovers were prevented from netting a winner in the dying minutes as Rudy Gestede headed a powerful effort at goal from Conway's corner, only to see Leadbitter clear it off the line with a desperate swipe.
Simon Sinclair
