Match report

Blackburn and Middlesbrough Draw 0-0 in Championship Clash

Blackburn
Blackburn
0–0
FT
Middlesbrough
Middlesbrough
Mar 21, 2026

Blackburn and Middlesbrough played out a thrilling 0-0 draw in their latest Championship match. Both teams pushed hard for a breakthrough, but neither could find the net despite several chances. Luke Ayling of Middlesbrough received a yellow card in the 24th minute, and Blackburn made several substitutions to maintain pressure. The draw sees both teams remain in contention for playoff positions in the Championship.

Key Facts

  • • Final Score: Blackburn 0 - 0 Middlesbrough
  • • Luke Ayling (Middlesbrough) received a yellow card in the 24th minute
  • • Blackburn substituted Y. Ribeiro for H. Pickering in the 63rd minute
  • • Middlesbrough substituted Luke Ayling for L. Castledine in the 68th minute
  • • A. Malanda (Middlesbrough) received a yellow card in the 89th minute

Lineups

Blackburn

Formation: 3-4-2-1

Starting XI

  • 22 Balázs Tóth (G)
  • 38 Tom Atcheson (D)
  • 15 Sean McLoughlin (D)
  • 20 Eiran Cashin (D)
  • 2 Ryan Alebiosu (M)
  • 5 Taylor Gardner-Hickman (M)
  • 28 Adam Forshaw (M)
  • 4 Yuri Ribeiro (M)
  • 25 Ryoya Morishita (F)
  • 24 Moussa Baradji (F)
  • 29 Mathias Jørgensen (F)

Substitutes

  • 3 Harry Pickering
  • 10 Todd Cantwell
  • 23 Yuki Ohashi
  • 1 Aynsley Pears
  • 16 Scott Wharton
  • 53 Frank Vare
  • 14 Dion De Neve
  • 21 Oladapo Afolayan
  • 54 Valentin Joseph

Middlesbrough

Formation: 3-4-2-1

Starting XI

  • 31 Solomon Brynn (G)
  • 12 Luke Ayling (D)
  • 6 Dael Fry (D)
  • 29 Adilson Malanda (D)
  • 2 Callum Brittain (M)
  • 8 Riley McGree (M)
  • 18 Aidan Morris (M)
  • 3 Matt Targett (M)
  • 16 Alan Browne (F)
  • 9 Tommy Conway (F)
  • 13 David Strelec (F)

Substitutes

  • 23 Leo Castledine
  • 24 Alex Bangura
  • 45 Jeremy Sarmiento
  • 32 Joe Wildsmith
  • 25 George Edmundson
  • 27 Sontje Hansen
  • 44 Cruz Ibeh
  • 20 Mamadou Kaly Sene
  • 14 Alexander Gilbert

Timeline

  1. Middlesbrough
    24' Middlesbrough Card · Yellow Card
    Luke Ayling
  2. Blackburn
    63' Blackburn subst · Substitution 1
    Off: Y. Ribeiro · On: H. Pickering
  3. Blackburn
    64' Blackburn subst · Substitution 2
    Off: M. Baradji · On: T. Cantwell
  4. Middlesbrough
    68' Middlesbrough subst · Substitution 1
    Off: Luke Ayling · On: L. Castledine
  5. Blackburn
    75' Blackburn subst · Substitution 3
    Off: M. Jorgensen · On: Y. Ohashi
  6. Middlesbrough
    80' Middlesbrough subst · Substitution 2
    Off: Matt Targett · On: A. Bangura
  7. Middlesbrough
    81' Middlesbrough subst · Substitution 3
    Off: D. Strelec · On: J. Sarmiento
  8. Middlesbrough
    89' Middlesbrough Card · Yellow Card
    A. Malanda

Match Stats

Stat Blackburn Middlesbrough
Fouls 7 8
Pass Accuracy 72% 86%
Offsides 2 4
Red Cards — —
Total Shots 5 12
Corners 3 11
Total Passes 283 705
Yellow Cards 0 2
Blocked Shots 2 4
Shots on Target 1 3
xG 0.32 1.50
Shots off Target 2 5
Possession 29% 71%
Goals Prevented 0 0
Accurate Passes 203 607
Shots Inside Box 3 9
Saves 3 1
Shots Outside Box 2 3

Key Match Notes

  • ▸ The yellow card for Luke Ayling in the 24th minute altered Middlesbrough's defensive approach, tightening their backline and making it harder for Blackburn to penetrate
  • ▸ Blackburn's multiple substitutions in the second half, starting with H. Pickering for Y. Ribeiro at the 63rd minute mark, showed their determination to break the deadlock but failed to convert the opportunities into goals