Blackburn fail to make the most of a corner as Emerton's effort fails to beat the first man. Ince will be angry with that.

There will be four minutes of stoppage time at the end of this game. Can Blackburn grab an equaliser?

Santa Cruz finds space on the right hand side and fires in a low cross towards Villanueva, but Wheater cuts it out and clears.

Middlesbrough are knocking the ball around well now as a number of Blackburn fans head for the exits.

Middlesbrough are still pushing forward despite their lead as O'Neil's cross is glanced just wide by Alves.

The score between these sides at Ewood Park last season was 1-1. Blackburn will settle for that now - that's for sure.

Treacy wins a corner for his side, but Villanueva's cross goes out of play before it can even reach anyone in the penalty area.

McCarthy is beaten in the air by Riggott as Blackburn turn to the long ball forward as they attempt to get back on level terms.

Middlesbrough have discovered a new sense of urgency after going ahead - what a difference a goal makes!

Downing whips a book into the penalty area and Tuncay flicks the ball towards goal, but it goes comfortably wide of the target.

It is never a suprise when a Blackburn player gets booked - they have recieved more cards than any other team so far this season.

Middlesbrough haven't beaten Blackburn in the league since February 2005, so this would be a fantastic victory for them.

Blackburn will be kicking themselves after going behind. Middlesbrough have barely threatend in the second half.

Simpson comes forward down the right hand side and finds Santa Cruz, but just as he tries to find McCarthy - the move breaks down. Again.

In actual fact, both teams have conceded three goals in injury time this season. So if somebody gets a winner - it could be a late one.

Blackburn will still be confident of grabbing a goal at some stage against a Middlesbrough team that has conceded six goals in the last 15 minutes this season.

The ball falls to McCarthy on the edge of the area and he runs into the space before being stopped by Andrew Taylor before he can get a shot away.

McCarthy attempts to have an instant impact on the game, but his flick on towards Santa Cruz is crucially booted away by Wheater.

Emerton's high ball into the penalty area is headed away by Riggott. Blackburn are looking the more likely - just.

Santa Cruz does well to work the ball wide to Emerton, but the Australian is caught offside. Ince will be very annoyed about that.

Derbyshire plays a deep ball into the penalty area which is headed clear by Wheater. They seem as though they are running out of ideas. Time for a change?

Middlesbrough come very close to opening the scoring, but Alves' cross is deflected just wide by Aliadiere.

The lack of goals will start to become a real issue for Blackburn - if they fail to find the net today, it will be three games without one.

The game is very scrappy now. After a promising first half, the conditions really are getting the better of the standard of football.

Andre Ooijer plays a poor ball forward as Blackburn look to push forward. Aliadiere eventually clears any danger.

The resulting free kick is taken by Gary O'Neil, but nothing comes of it as it avades everyone in the penalty area. Frustrating.

Blackburn keep promising a lot going forward, but their final ball is constantly letting them down.

Emerton picks himself up to take the three kick and his cross goes over the top of everybody before falling to the feet of Ryan Nelsen who taps the ball wide.

Emerton runs forward with the ball down the right hand side and manages to win a free kick for his side.

Robinson launches the ball forward and just as it seems that Santa Cruz is through on goal, the linesman flags for offside.

Both managers will be contemplating changes if things remain as they are - neither side has created much in the second half so far.

Emerton collided with Santa Cruz as he attempted to get on the end of that cross and the latter has stayed down injured. They can't afford to lose him.

Free kick for the home side in a dangerous position is taken by Villanueva and his lofted ball just avades Emerton at the back post. Surely he should have had a shot at goal?

Blackburn bring the ball forward with Simpson, but after the move eventually resulted in a Derbyshire cross - the ball goes out of play for a goal kick.

Free kick for Middlesbrough is taken by Downing, but it is far too strong and it goes flying past all the waiting players. Awful effort.

Blackburn have the first attack of the second period through Villanueva, but his long range effort goes just wide of the post.

Another chance for Santa Cruz as he is played through on goal by Villanueva, but he can't loop the ball over Turnbull.

Emerton latches onto a clever pass from Villanueva, but his cross can't beat Pogatetz at the near post.

Aliadiere is back on the field after his injury and Southgate will be hoping he can continue into the second half.

Warnock collects the ball off Emerton before bursting down the left hand side with great urgency, but just as he tries to find Villanueva - Middlesbrough win the ball.

Aliadiere is down injured and is clutching his knee. He doesn't seem to be in a good way and it will be interesting to see if he can continue.

As we approach half time, Gareth Southgate will probably be the happier of the two managers. Both teams have had their chances, but the away side have produced slightly more.

Villanueva takes too long to pass to Santa Cruz after collecting the ball off Derbyshire and allows Emanuel Pogatetz to tackle him.

A neat passing move from Blackburn results in the ball falling to Warnock, but his effort is awful and fails to test Turnbull.

Riggott's long ball forward finds Aliadiere and his low cross is crucially cut out before it could find Alves six yards from goal.

Santa Cruz does very well to win the ball off Didier Digard and manages to win a throw in for his side.

Aliadiere is working very hard for his side as he wins the ball off Warnock, but luck isn't on his side and Robinson eventually claims it.

Free kick to Middlesbrough is launched forward into the penalty area aiming for Wheater, but once again, nothing comes of it. They can't hold the ball up front.

It seems that Santa Cruz is Blackburn's biggest threat going forward today. Middlesbrough need to keep him as quiet as possible.

Blackburn corner taken by Villanueva finds the head of Santa Cruz who produces a powerful header towards goal that Turnbull does well to save.

Free kick for the home side is knocked forward towards Martins Afonso Alves, but he can't get the ball under control and Blackburn win the ball.

There certainly have been plenty of chances for either side to take the lead so far, but we still await the first goal of the game.

That was a brilliant move from Middlesbrough before the ruled out goal and in actual fact, they may count themselves rather unlucky.

Tuncay finds the net with an acrobatic overhead kick, but the goal is ruled out for offside. That was close.

Simpson's cross aiming for Santa Cruz is cut out by Middlesbrough as another Blackburn attack breaks down.

A corner for the visitors is whipped in by Downing and after it almost falls into the path of Tuncay, but is eventually claimed by Paul Robinson.

After a promising start, the game has become rather scrappy with the blustery conditions not helping proceedings.

Vince Grella plays a long and diagonal ball forward, but Wheater gets on the end of it and clears the ball. Middlesbrough could do with holding onto it though.

WIth several early chances for the home side gone begging, it is worth noting that they have only scored twice at Ewood Park so far this season.

Another chance for Santa Cruz as he gets on the end of a Blackburn corner. This time though, his header goes wide of the target.

Blackburn are very much on top now. An excellent passing move ends with Santa Cruz firing a shot against the post. So close.

Speaking of Derbyshire, he will be confident of getting a goal today. The young striker scored in both league games against Middlesbrough last season.

An excellent cross by Danny Simpson is whipped into the box and after Roque Santa Cruz's flick on, Matt Derbyshire knocks the ball wide.

Emerton's powerful and curling cross into the box almost catches Turnbull out, but after a brief scare - he grabs hold of the ball.

Corner for the home side is played high into the Middlesbrough penalty area, but is easily headed away by Sanli Tuncay.

Long ball forward from Blackburn falls to Brett Emerton in the penalty area and he forces a good save from Ross Turnbull.

The tempo of this game has increased dramatically in the last couple of minutes. Both teams are desperate to get the opening goal.

Villanueva plays a superb ball into the path of Stephen Warnock, but Chris Riggott produces a crucial sliding challenge to end the attack.

Stewart Downing's first involvement of the game is to find Jeremie Aliadiere in the penalty area who watches on as his volleyed effort smashes the crossbar. Excellent effort.

The Middlesbrough players look very short on confidence in the opening few minutes. Perhaps this is because they have lost five of their last six games in all competitions.

Middlesbrough give the ball away very cheaply in midfield and the ball finds Villanueva who can't quite make the most of the mistake.

As much as Middlesbrough have a poor recent record at Ewood Park, they will be encouraged by the fact that a win today would see them go above Blackburn.

Blackburn free kick is whipped into the penalty area, but nobody attacks the ball and it goes out of play on the other side of the pitch.

Nothing comes from the resulting corner and that will frustrate Paul Ince. They need to cause problems from set-pieces today.

Blackburn launch their first attack of the game as Carlos Villanueva fires a long range effort towards goal which is deflected behind for a corner.

An early free kick for Middlesbrough is played high towards the back post and although David Wheater got his head on it - Blackburn manage to clear the danger.

Blackburn will fancy their chances of victory today. They have not lost at home to Middlesbrough in the last six Premier League games.