A looping cross enters the box and Roberts directs it goal-wards with a glancing header and Jones pulls off a magnificent save to save Boro.

A Rovers corner is curled into the box and Samba goes down under the challenge of a Boro shirt but Chris Foy waves play on.

Boro win a late corner and Downing picks out Wheater but his downwards header is gathered easily by Robinson.

Boro fail to clear their lines from a Blackburn corner and the ball drops to Pedersen and Jones makes a good save with his knees.

Roberts shows his power as he cuts inside the box and gets a shot away, forcing a fine save out of Jones.

Alves causes more problems but his left-footed shot fails to work Robinson. The Brazilian has caused problems every time he has been on the ball, he has just not had enough service since taking the field.

Dunn is seeing a lot of the ball in the hole behind the forwards and gets another shot away but again it is straight down the throat of Jones.

Middlesbrough only have three clean sheets this season and so they will be pleased to pick one up today if the scoreline remains the same, though they may feel they could have developed more in front of goal.

Dunn shows some skill on the edge of the box and gets a shot away from inside the 'D' but it is a comfortable save for Jones between the posts.

Dunn gets a shot in at goal from inside the box but sends it over the bar. The midfielder maybe should have done better there.

A strong run from Alves as Boro come forward but his shot is poor and Robinson sees the ball wide of his goal.

Boro have to defend for their lives as Santa Cruz works some decent opportunities and in the end they manage to clear their lines.

This game could still go either way and there is a much better tempo to the game after the break.

The home crowd have founded their voices after seeing how their side have approached this second-half but there is still no breakthrough here.

McCarthy picks up the ball in a dangerous position and finds space for a shot but a Boro defender works back and snuffs out the attack.

Alves shoves Nelsen off the ball and lines up a shot before being brought down by the Rovers skipper.

Tugay hits a scorcher from range and Jones has to be on his toes to fist the ball over the bar.

Warnock is receiving a lot of joy down the left flank today and Blackburn seem to be trying to exploit that area at the moment.

The Middlesbrough bench look concerned about Tuncay but he is running around smoothly and Afonso Alves has put his tracksuit back on.

Southgate prepares Afonso Alves to replace Tuncay who is receiving treatment off the pitch, but the Turkish striker gets up and says he wants to carry on.

Downing picks out Riggott with a corner but the defender sends his header over the bar from close range.

Tuncay goes down after a clash of heads with Samba and is not moving on the floor. The physios are straight on the pitch and he appears to be unconscious.

The crowd has livened up following that attack from Boro and they will be hoping to see more of their side pushing forward in this second-half.

Encouraging signs from Boro as Tuncay breaks into the box and lays the ball off for Walker whose shot is deflected wide.

Tugay picks out Santa Cruz wide open in a dangerous position. He tries to round the keeper but Jones gets a touch on the ball and takes the striker away from goal.

Santa Cruz jumps into life and gets a shot away from the edge of the box and Jones does brilliantly to turn the ball around the post.

Boro stride forward with Johnson and he lays the ball off to Tuncay but his shot is blocked inside the Boro box.

A Gamst Pedersen long throw comes out to Grella who is inches away from breaking the deadlock with a long range drive.

Downing picks out Johnson and the winger cuts inside before trying his luck with a decent looking shot that takes a deflection and goes behind for a corner.

Johnson is one of the brighter Boro players and wins his side a free-kick on the edge of the box as he is brought down by Vince Grella, but Downing fails to cause any problems with the set piece.

Blackburn are finding their feet a little in this game now and go on the break again with Emerton but the move comes to an end as Santa Cruz is caught offside.

Warnock bursts into the box and his shot is saved by Jones. The ball comes back out to the full-back however and he picks out McCarthy in the box but he directs his shot wide of the target.

Sanli Tuncay runs at the Rovers defence and has options made available to him but he tries to go it alone and eventually runs into trouble.

Gamst Pedersen whips a cross in and finds McCarthy at the far post in a great position but the linesman flags for offside - a dubious decision from the official.

Downing makes a decent run inside Stephen Warnock and is through on goal but the linesman pulls play back for offside.

Both sides know there is a lot at stake today and this may be one of the reasons for the nervy start to this fixture.

Brett Emerton brings the ball down in the box and appeals for handball, but Chris Foy waves away the protests.

Boro have lined up interestingly today with Downing starting on the right flank, perhaps because he will offer more defensive duties than Johnson against Morten Gamst Pedersen

Downing is at the heart of a decent Boro move and they enjoy some possession around the Rovers box, but in the end the blue and white shirts snuff out the attack.

It is all very flat around the Riverside at the moment and the game is in desperate need of some goalscoring opportunities to liven things up.

Benni McCarthy unleashes a hopeful shot from distance and it is a comfortable save for Bradley Jones, who will be grateful of getting a touch on the ball.

Gareth Southgate has made a brave move today, using home grown academy players as the bulk of the midfield and leaving experience in the shape of Julio Arca and Afonso Alves on the bench.

Stoke's surprise win over Man City in the early kick-off today has put pressure on the rest of the sides down at the bottom of the Premiership and this fixture is one that could go either way.

Boro win an early free-kick in a promising position but Stewart Downing's delivery is headed clear.