Middlesbrough are being held to a goalless draw with Blackburn Rovers at the Riverside Stadium in the Championship this afternoon.

The home side have been the better side, but the stubborn Rovers have held firm in the first 45 minutes in the North-East.

Boro looked dangerous early on and Jelle Vossen found himself in a good position before being crowded out inside the box, moments before Grant Leadbitter went close with an effort.

Vossen then saw his effort cleared off the line before Albert Adomah fired the resulting effort wide.

Patrick Bamford and Daniel Ayala combined well on 22 minutes to feed Leadbitter, but the midfielder could only drag his shot wide of the goal.

Ayala, who had earlier been involved in a collision with Rudy Gestede, then went close from a corner as Boro continued to pile the pressure on the visitors.

Simon Eastwood, who was making his first start of the season in goal for Rovers, was being kept busy throughout and Bamford forced him into a save with a low shot on 37 minutes.