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BORO'S long goal drought was stretched to a frustrating seven hours and 15 minutes after agoalles draw with Blackburn.
But as double-blanks go, it was a relatively entertaining encounter with Blackburn Rovers keeper Paul Robinson making a string of excellent saves to keep dominant Boro at bay.
The former England shot-stopper made three good blocks in the firsthalf and another after the break.
But that will be little consolation for Boro who have now not scored for four games - although they added another clean sheet to their collection.
Danny Graham made his first start for Boro since May 2006 when Steve McClaren turned out an Academy dominated side with an average age below 20 four days before the UEFA Cup final.
Elsewhere in the team, Jozsef Varga and Jonathan Woodgate returned to defence in place of Kenneth Omeruo and injured Daniel Ayala while Ben Gibson started having come off the bench in last week's goalless draw at Doncaster.
Boro showed first in the second minute as Emmanuel Ledesma sent a low cross in from the left that evaded Graham at the near post then bounced to the back stick where defender Spurr put it out before Grant Leadbitter could arrive.
Then, on four minutes George Friend pushed a ball down the left for Mustapha Carayol to scoop up and weave into the box before drilling in an angled 10 yard effort the keeper did well to push behind for a corner.
Then when Ledesma's flag-kick curled to the near post on-loan Chelsea Nathaniel powered in a downward header keeper Robinson blocked one-handed before the rebound as hooked clear.
On 10 minutes a good move down the left sent Friend forward to push a ball towards the byline for Graham to chase and square across the face of goal but there was no-one arriving to profit.
Boro were dominating possession but were struggling to get the ball into the box and Graham looked isolated.
They threatened on 22 minutes as Carayol weaved in from the left and squared to Leadbitter 20 yards out and he rifled in a low shot that drifted wide.
And two minutes later Carayol latched onto a loose ball deep in the Boro half and streaked 50 yards before squaring into the box but the keeper was out quickly to collect before Graham could arrive,
Then in a good spell of pressure Friend over-lapped on 25 minutes and cut inside but his shot was charged down then the rebound wouldn't quite fall for Leadbitter near the penalty spot and the danger was scrambled clear.
Boro swept forward again a minute later as Leadbitter sent Friend into the box but his low effort clipped defender Hanley and screwed up over the bar.
Then Carayol again cut in from the left to slam in a sizzler that again Robinson did well to block at the near post.
And on 29 minutes Robinson spilled a Leadbitter ball in and as Ledesma tried to pounce he was bundled over by a defender then as Graham joined the scrum the keeper snaked out a hand to gather.
But Blackburn could have had the opener on 32 minutes as they won a corner and when Cairney's ball in was headed half-clear it dropped for Gestede on the edge of the box and he slammed wide.
Boro threatened again on 40 minutes as Varga carried the ball forward with the defence backing off but when he drilled in a shot from 20 yards it was charged down.
HALF-TIME: BORO 0 BLACKBURN 0
Rovers put Henley for Kane at the break.
Boro won a corner on 47 minutes and when Ledesma's ball curled to the far post Graham stooped to head but it hit a defender and went behind for another flag-kick which was again delivered to back stick but Carayol failed to connect.
From another corner Graham headed wide, then on 52 minutes Friend cut in from the left and fired a cross into the box that stretching defender Hanley tried to block but sent it screwing wildly and with Robinson back-pedalling furiously it dropped just beyond the far post.
Boro almost grabbed the opener on 55 minutes as a Rovers corner was cleared up to Graham and he slotted it forward for Carayol to streak forward and wriggle past Hanley to get clear into the box but as he shaped to shoot from 12 yards Robinson came sliding out to block.
On 56 minutes Rovers put on Conway for Dunn.
Rovers had a rare chance on 58 minutes as Cairney found space on the edge of the box to lash in a low shot that Shay Given saved with his feet.
Then two minutes later Given had to quickly to the edge of the box to punt clear from Rhodes as the Rovers man chased onto a weak back-header by Whitehead.
On 60 minutes Chalobah was booked for a foul on Gestede.
Boro were on the attack again on 62 minutes when Leadbitter got past Kilgallon to rifle in a low effort that was blocked by defender Lowe.
On 66 Carayol was booked for a foul on Taylor.
On 69 minutes Boro put on Albert Adomah for Ledesma.
The sub almost made the breakthrough for Boro on 72 minutes as he cut in from the right to the edge of the box then lashed in a powerful goalbound effort that Robinson, well off his line, did well to stretch and tip over.
On 75 minutes Kei Kamara came on for Carayol.
Rovers went close on 76 minutes as Lowe sent a 25 yard effort just over.
On 77 minutes Rovers put on Vardy for Gestede.
Boro had a half chance on 80 minutes as a superb diagonal ball by Chalobah found Adomah in the box but he had to stretch to bring it down and when he turned to shoot from 10 yards it was weak and straight at Robinson.
On 81 minutes Boro put on Curtis Main for Graham.
Boro had to weather some heavy pressure as Rovers won a disputed corner after Rhodes appeared to steer a Conway cross wide. That was scrambled away then when the bal l came back in there was another nervous melee.
But Boro broke out on 86 minutes as Adomah raced down the right to send a ball skidding across the face of goal that bounced past a defender then just beyond Main arriving in the box.
Boro continued to press in the final stages but it was increasingly scrappy and they could not carve out a clear chance.
BORO (4231): Given, Varga, Woodgate Gibson, Friend, Leadbitter, Chalobah, Whitehead, Ledesma (Adomah, 69), Carayol (Kamara 75), Graham (Main 81). Subs: Konstantopoulos, Butterfield, Hines, Omeruo.
BLACKBURN (442): Robinson, Kane (Henley 46), Hanley, Kilgallon, Spurr, Lowe, Taylor, Cairney, Dunn (Conway 56), Rhodes, Gestede (Varney 77). Subs: Eastwood, Henley, Williamson, Dabo, Evans, Conway.
Ref: Stuart Attwell (Nuneaton)
Att: 14,965 (691 awaty fans)
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