Middlesbrough’s home struggles against Blackburn Rovers persisted on Saturday as Kim Hellberg’s promotion-chasing side were held to a goalless draw at the Riverside Stadium. Despite remaining second in the Championship, Boro’s winless run against Blackburn at home has now stretched to 12 matches across all competitions, a streak dating back over 13 years.
Middlesbrough’s Offensive Struggles at the Riverside
Middlesbrough began the match with promising intent, but their attack lacked clinical finishing. Morgan Whittaker, normally a reliable performer, was off-colour, failing to convert several clear opportunities. His first effort was straight at former Boro goalkeeper Aynsley Pears, and a subsequent attempt went wide. Later, Whittaker hit the inside of the post, illustrating Boro’s misfortune in front of goal.
Blackburn, meanwhile, defended resolutely, with skipper Todd Cantwell firing into the side netting and Callum Brittain deflecting a Ryan Hedges shot wide. George Edmundson also made a crucial goal-line clearance to deny Middlesbrough.
Key Moments and Missed Chances
Yuki Ohashi had a golden opportunity for Boro but dragged his shot wide after a promising through ball. Injuries further disrupted both sides—Middlesbrough lost Alfie Jones and Matt Targett, while Ryoya Morishita went off injured for Blackburn.
Blackburn’s few chances in the second half were limited but notable. Axel Henriksson’s tame effort was comfortably saved by Sol Brynn, and Matty Litherland’s shot also failed to trouble the Boro goalkeeper. Middlesbrough captain Hayden Hackney was booked for a late challenge on Taylor Gardner-Hickman, highlighting Boro’s frustrations during a disappointing afternoon.
Kim Hellberg Reacts: “We Didn’t Deserve More Than a Point”
After the match, Middlesbrough manager Kim Hellberg admitted his team’s shortcomings. Speaking to BBC Radio Tees, Hellberg said:
“I think as a game in total, it’s very disappointing… There’s so much determination, but today we started to force things because we wanted it so badly. That opened us up for counters and caused technical errors. We didn’t deserve more than a point.”
Valerien Ismael Praises Blackburn’s Away Performance
Blackburn manager Valerien Ismael was satisfied with his team’s performance. Speaking to BBC Radio Lancashire, Ismael highlighted the resilience of his squad:
“It was a great away game… We managed the first half well, defended solidly, and controlled the second half brilliantly. We just needed more quality in the final third, but it was a very solid away performance and a second consecutive clean sheet.”
Player of the Match and Ratings
The standout performer for Middlesbrough was S. Tronstad, earning an average rating of 7.40, while Blackburn saw strong performances from C. Brittain (6.20) and goalkeeper S. Brynn (6.02). Boro’s average player ratings reflected their disappointing outing, with several players struggling to make an impact.
Middlesbrough’s Home Hoodoo Continues
The result prolongs Middlesbrough’s frustrating record against Blackburn at the Riverside, emphasizing the challenge they face in converting home advantage into points. Despite sitting second in the Championship, Boro will need to address their offensive inefficiency and injury concerns to maintain their promotion push.
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