Match report

Middlesbrough Draw With Blackburn in Championship Clash

Middlesbrough
Middlesbrough
0–0
FT
Blackburn
Blackburn
Dec 26, 2025

In an intense encounter at the Riverside Stadium, Middlesbrough managed to hold Blackburn to a goalless draw. Despite several substitutions and key incidents, neither team could break through for a crucial goal in their Championship match.

Key Facts

  • • Final score: Middlesbrough 0–0 Blackburn (Championship)
  • • Alfie Jones replaced George Edmundson at the 17th minute for Middlesbrough
  • • A. Gilbert and R. Morishita received yellow cards for fouls in the first half
  • • M. Baradji was shown a yellow card for time-wasting in the second half

Lineups

Middlesbrough

Formation: 4-2-2-2

Starting XI

  • 31 S. Brynn (G)
  • 2 C. Brittain (D)
  • 12 L. Ayling (D)
  • 5 A. Jones (D)
  • 3 M. Targett (D)
  • 14 A. Gilbert (M)
  • 7 H. Hackney (M)
  • 11 M. Whittaker (M)
  • 17 M. Hamilton (M)
  • 13 D. Strelec (F)
  • 9 T. Conway (F)

Substitutes

  • 33 J. McLaughlin
  • 6 D. Fry
  • 10 D. Burgzorg
  • 16 A. Browne
  • 19 S. Nypan
  • 20 M. K. Sene
  • 24 A. Bangura
  • 25 G. Edmundson
  • 27 S. Hansen

Blackburn

Formation: 3-4-1-2

Starting XI

  • 1 A. Pears (G)
  • 12 L. Miller (D)
  • 15 S. McLoughlin (D)
  • 43 G. Pratt (D)
  • 40 M. Litherland (M)
  • 25 R. Morishita (M)
  • 6 S. Tronstad (M)
  • 19 R. Hedges (M)
  • 10 T. Cantwell (F)
  • 18 A. Henriksson (F)
  • 23 Y. Ohashi (F)

Substitutes

  • 35 N. Michalski
  • 3 H. Pickering
  • 4 Y. Ribeiro
  • 38 T. Atcheson
  • 5 T. Gardner-Hickman
  • 24 M. Baradji
  • 14 D. De Neve
  • 47 A. Doherty
  • 52 N. Dlamini

Timeline

  1. Middlesbrough
    17' Middlesbrough subst · Substitution 1
    Off: Alfie Jones · On: George Edmundson
  2. Middlesbrough
    31' Middlesbrough Card · Yellow Card
    A. Gilbert

    Foul

  3. Blackburn
    32' Blackburn Card · Yellow Card
    R. Morishita

    Foul

  4. Blackburn
    45'+2 Blackburn subst · Substitution 1
    Off: R. Morishita · On: M. Baradji
  5. Middlesbrough
    46' Middlesbrough subst · Substitution 2
    Off: Unknown player · On: D. Fry
  6. Middlesbrough
    46' Middlesbrough subst · Substitution 3
    Off: M. Hamilton · On: S. Nypan
  7. Blackburn
    57' Blackburn Card · Yellow Card
    M. Baradji

    Time wasting

  8. Middlesbrough
    67' Middlesbrough subst · Substitution 4
    Off: A. Gilbert · On: A. Browne
  9. Middlesbrough
    73' Middlesbrough subst · Substitution 5
    Off: Matt Targett · On: A. Bangura
  10. Blackburn
    76' Blackburn subst · Substitution 2
    Off: R. Hedges · On: H. Pickering
  11. Blackburn
    76' Blackburn subst · Substitution 3
    Off: Sondre Tronstad · On: T. Gardner-Hickman
  12. Middlesbrough
    80' Middlesbrough Card · Yellow Card
    H. Hackney

    Foul

  13. Blackburn
    90'+2 Blackburn subst · Substitution 5
    Off: A. Henriksson · On: N. Dlamini
  14. Blackburn
    90'+3 Blackburn subst · Substitution 4
    Off: T. Cantwell · On: Y. Ribeiro

Match Stats

Stat Middlesbrough Blackburn
Fouls 11 9
Pass Accuracy 80% 80%
Offsides 2 1
Red Cards — —
Total Shots 10 13
Corners 4 4
Total Passes 463 391
Yellow Cards 2 2
Blocked Shots 4 5
Shots on Target 2 2
xG 0.75 1.23
Shots off Target 4 6
Possession 53% 47%
Goals Prevented 0 0
Accurate Passes 371 314
Shots Inside Box 6 8
Saves 3 2
Shots Outside Box 4 5

Key Match Notes

  • ▸ The early substitution of Alfie Jones for George Edmundson marked a change in Middlesbrough’s tactical approach, but failed to produce any clear-cut chances.
  • ▸ Blackburn's introduction of Sondre Tronstad and H. Pickering at the 76th minute threatened an upset, yet both sides remained locked at zero.