Middlesbrough dropped more points in the Championship automatic promotion race as they were held to a goalless draw by relegation-threatened Blackburn Rovers.

But with Ipswich Town and Millwall, the two sides below them, drawing with each other, they maintained a two-point cushion over both with just seven games left to play.

However, this was a missed opportunity as, like in recent games, they failed to take their chances and it is now just two wins in their past eight matches.

David Strelec came closest when he was denied by Rovers keeper Balazs Toth late in the first half, but they ran out of ideas after the break.

For Blackburn, this was another useful point in their battle to avoid going down as they inched a further point nearer to safety.

Ryoya Morishita had their only shot on target on a day when they were forced to defend for large periods.

The first half saw Boro dominate possession and Toth bookended it with fine saves from Luke Ayling and Strelec.

In between, United States midfielder Aidan Morris wasted the best chance of the lot as he fired into the side netting after being picked out in space inside the area, while Tommy Conway and Alan Browne were also guilty of not making the most of fine situations.

And there was a warning at the other end as, from the only time Blackburn managed to exert any pressure, Morishita drew a reaction stop out of Sol Brynn.

But other than a tame effort from Morris that bobbled at Toth, they struggled to create anything of note in the second half.

Despite attacking the end housing their 7,000 supporters, a collective anxiety came over their play as time ticked away from them.

Since winning at Sheffield United to go top in early February, Boro have collected 10 points from eight games and have dropped points in matches against four of the bottom seven.

And having not won any of their past four games at the Riverside Stadium, those struggles spread to their travels.

For Blackburn head coach Michael O'Neill, this was his last assignment before he reverts to his international role with only five days to go before Northern Ireland's World Cup play-off away to Italy.

Rovers were in the bottom three when he arrived in February, so part one of his remit has been completed as they have certainly picked up since he came in with 11 points from eight games, but he will know there is still plenty more to do once the international break is over.

They were resolute defensively – qualities Northern Ireland will need in Bergamo – and after winning at Millwall last Saturday, they took more points off a promotion contender.

Blackburn Rovers head coach Michael O'Neill told BBC Radio Lancashire:

"It's hugely important for us not to concentrate on the league table. Where we are at the minute is how do we continue to build on that positivity and get momentum.

"That gives us four points from two very difficult games in the top four and once we come back from the international break, hopefully the players will be refreshed and a little bit stronger in terms of our options, and we've got Birmingham away and West Brom at home, two huge games.

"All we can do is ask the players to fight and give what they gave and I thought they were magnificent and the fans saw that today in the performance."

Middlesbrough head coach Kim Hellberg said:

"It was a very, very good first half. The first 15, 20 minutes of the second half felt very good but then it became open from us trying to chase the game.

"We wanted it so much that we lost a bit of control and quality in terms of how we played, but it was a good performance in many ways.

"We're doing our best, we kept a clean sheet away from home, we're trying to score, we created a lot of opportunities, but it didn't fall for us.

"Of course we need to score goals. If we don't, we won't win games."