Exciting partnerships emerging as Middlesbrough man keeps Liverpool loanee under wraps: Joe Nicholson's verdict after Blackburn Rovers draw

Unbeaten in nine, five clean sheets in six games and disappointed not to make it three wins in a row.

Middlesbrough’s goalless draw at Blackburn may have felt frustrating for many supporters watching back home, yet it was also another sign of progress.

Neil Warnock’s team were the better side at Ewood Park, once again looking defensively robust and unlikely to concede.

At the other end, there is still a lack of cutting edge and attacking firepower, yet Boro created enough chances to win this match, with Blackburn continuously producing last-ditch blocks to keep the visitors out.

The stats show Boro recorded 20 shots at goal, yet only three hit the target.

Former stopper Aynsley Pears was awarded Blackburn’s man of the match and made one fine save to keep out Marcus Tavernier’s deflected effort.

Yet there were other chances to score, as Dael Fry sent a couple of late headers wide and Britt Assombalonga failed to hit the target.

Still, the fact Boro were creating opportunities and dominated large parts of the match is encouraging.

Warnock’s side have switched between a back three and a back four this season depending on their opponents.

The Boro boss likes his side to match opponents up and go man-to-man, which is part of the reason behind their defensive improvements.

Against Blackburn, Warnock opted for a 4-3-3 formation, selecting Anfernee Dijksteel and Marc Bola as the full-backs, with Djed Spence and Hayden Coulson in front of them.

The quartet were full of energy on the flanks and often interchanged positions seamlessly as Boro transitioned from defence to attack, or vise versa.

For the second match running, Coulson and Bola linked up particularly well on the left, with the former now looking back to somewhere near his best after a tricky spell under Warnock.

A lot of credit must go to Bola too, who looked well out of his depth after arriving from Blackpool last season but now appears a real asset.

In the first half, talented Blackburn playmaker Harvey Elliott, who is on loan from Liverpool, found it difficult to make an impact as Bola kept the teenager under wraps.

It wasn’t until the second half, when Elliott switched to the left, that the midfielder found space to deliver a low cross which Ben Brereton and Sam Gallagher were close to converting.

That was probably the best chance for both sides and the only moment where Boro noticeably switched off at the back.

The squad is young and low on numbers, but does appear to have a good mix of youth and experience.

Jonny Howson, George Saville and Paddy McNair have been praised by Warnock for the way they lead by example, while goalkeeper Marcus Bettinelli can always be heard repeatedly barking out instructions.

Up front, club captain Assombalonga is working his socks off for the team and is a big influence in the dressing room, even if he would like more goals to his name.

A goal was the only thing missing from Boro’s performance at Ewood Park, yet Warnock’s side continue to make progress.

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