Blackburn Rovers 1-0 Middlesbrough

Jason Lowe scored his first goal for Blackburn as they beat Middlesbrough to end a run of three games without a win.

The midfielder, 22, scored late in the second half with a superb long-range effort to secure the three points.

Alan Judge's free-kick was tipped behind by Jason Steele, before the Boro keeper kept out a Jordan Rhodes header.

Kei Kamara's header was scrambled away by Blackburn keeper Jake Kean while Jonathan Woodgate's goalbound attempt was blocked by Marvin Emnes.

With the win, Blackburn move up to ninth in the Championship while the visitors, who have now failed to win away from home in their last six games, are 16th.

The hosts had the better of the chances in the first half, despite not dominating possession but Steele was equal to them all.

He tipped Judge's curling free-kick behind before making an even better save, adjusting his body to claw Rhodes's effort to safety.

Steele then turned away Joshua King's ferocious strike in first-half injury time.

Boro's first shot on goal also came shortly before half time when Kamara's downward header was scrambled away by Kean.

Emnes blocked Woodgate's goalbound header after the break as Boro pushed forward, but it was Blackburn who snatched the points thanks to Lowe's thunderous 25-yard strike into the top corner which gave the Lancashire side their fifth win of the season.

Blackburn Rovers manager Gary Bowyer:

"I thought their goalkeeper made an outstanding save from Jordan Rhodes in the first half and we had a couple of half chances in the first half, and we had a great shout for a penalty in the second half.

"It was a tough game though, there wasn't much in it, that's for sure. We know what we're trying to do and how hard everybody is working. We just go game by game and treat each game with the respect that it deserves."

Middlesbrough caretaker manager Mark Venus:

"I think it was a hard-fought game with two teams competing well and it was a great goal to decide the game. I feel we didn't lose that game through lack of effort or desire.

"Blackburn to be fair kept the ball a bit better and were a bit more progressive but we're not a team at the top of the league. We're trying to improve and need to improve in those aspects of the game.

"I don't know (about the manager search). I just carry on. I'm sure the chairman is doing what is best for the club and he needs to. We need to pick results up from the players and staff. We have a wonderful club with a wonderful set of supporters."

• Line-ups
• Match Stats
• Live Text

Line-ups

Blackburn

• 34Kean
• 2KaneBooked at 33mins
• 3SpurrSubstituted forMorrisat 21'minutes
• 6Lowe
• 16Dann
• 4KilgallonSubstituted forMarshallat 77'minutes
• 45Cairney
• 17Williamson
• 11Rhodes
• 25JudgeSubstituted forTaylorat 74'minutes
• 7King

Substitutes

• 12Marshall
• 13Eastwood
• 15Songo'o
• 19Taylor
• 21Marrow
• 24Morris
• 27Henley

Middlesbrough

• 1Steele
• 4WilliamsBooked at 62mins
• 3Friend
• 8VargaSubstituted forCarayolat 72'minutes
• 39WoodgateBooked at 43mins
• 26AyalaBooked at 29mins
• 27AdomahSubstituted forButterfieldat 85'minutes
• 33SmallwoodBooked at 61mins
• 29Kamara
• 7Leadbitter
• 10EmnesBooked at 61minsSubstituted forJutkiewiczat 72'minutes

Substitutes

• 5Richardson
• 6Butterfield
• 9Jutkiewicz
• 15Hines
• 19Carayol
• 22Gibson
• 32Leutwiler

Referee:

Carl Boyeson

Attendance:

16,645

Match Stats

Home TeamBlackburnAway TeamMiddlesbrough

Possession

Home48%

Away52%

Shots

Home13

Away9

Shots on Target

Home5

Away3

Corners

Home7

Away6

Fouls

Home6

Away12

Live Text

Posted at

Match ends, Blackburn Rovers 1, Middlesbrough 0.

Full Time

Posted at 90'+5'

Second Half ends, Blackburn Rovers 1, Middlesbrough 0.

Posted at 90'+2'

Corner, Middlesbrough. Conceded by Chris Taylor.

Posted at 90'+2'

Attempt blocked. Kei Kamara (Middlesbrough) right footed shot from outside the box is blocked. Assisted by Richard Smallwood.

Posted at 90'

Attempt missed. Lukas Jutkiewicz (Middlesbrough) right footed shot from more than 35 yards is high and wide to the right. Assisted by Jonathan Woodgate with a headed pass.

Posted at 89'

Attempt missed. Jordan Rhodes (Blackburn Rovers) right footed shot from very close range is close, but misses to the right. Assisted by Chris Taylor with a cross.

Posted at 88'

Attempt saved. Lukas Jutkiewicz (Middlesbrough) left footed shot from more than 35 yards is saved in the bottom left corner.

Posted at 87'

Attempt saved. Ben Marshall (Blackburn Rovers) right footed shot from outside the box is saved in the bottom left corner.

Posted at 86'

Attempt missed. Lukas Jutkiewicz (Middlesbrough) header from very close range is too high. Assisted by Mustapha Carayol with a cross.

Substitution

Posted at 85'

Substitution, Middlesbrough. Jacob Butterfield replaces Albert Adomah.

Posted at 84'

Foul by Kei Kamara (Middlesbrough).

Posted at 84'

Scott Dann (Blackburn Rovers) wins a free kick in the defensive half.

Posted at 82'

Foul by Mustapha Carayol (Middlesbrough).

Posted at 82'

Ben Marshall (Blackburn Rovers) wins a free kick in the defensive half.

Posted at 80'

Attempt missed. Lukas Jutkiewicz (Middlesbrough) header from the centre of the box is close, but misses to the right. Assisted by George Friend.

Substitution

Posted at 77'

Substitution, Blackburn Rovers. Ben Marshall replaces Matthew Kilgallon because of an injury.

Goal!

Posted at 76'

Goal! Blackburn Rovers 1, Middlesbrough 0. Jason Lowe (Blackburn Rovers) right footed shot from outside the box to the top left corner. Assisted by Joshua King.

Posted at 74'

Foul by Mustapha Carayol (Middlesbrough).

Posted at 74'

Tom Cairney (Blackburn Rovers) wins a free kick in the defensive half.

Substitution

Posted at 74'

Substitution, Blackburn Rovers. Chris Taylor replaces Alan Judge.

Posted at 73'

Attempt missed. Alan Judge (Blackburn Rovers) right footed shot from outside the box is close, but misses to the right. Assisted by Jason Lowe.

Posted at 72'

Foul by Richard Smallwood (Middlesbrough).

Posted at 72'

Josh Morris (Blackburn Rovers) wins a free kick on the left wing.

Substitution

Posted at 72'

Substitution, Middlesbrough. Mustapha Carayol replaces József Varga.

Substitution

Posted at 72'

Substitution, Middlesbrough. Lukas Jutkiewicz replaces Marvin Emnes.

Posted at 71'

Corner, Blackburn Rovers. Conceded by Marvin Emnes.

Posted at 70'

Delay in match Matthew Kilgallon (Blackburn Rovers) because of an injury.

Posted at 68'

Corner, Blackburn Rovers. Conceded by Daniel Ayala.

Posted at 65'

Offside, Blackburn Rovers. Jason Lowe tries a through ball, but Jordan Rhodes is caught offside.

Posted at 65'

Corner, Middlesbrough. Conceded by Lee Williamson.

Booking

Posted at 62'

Rhys Williams (Middlesbrough) is shown the yellow card for a bad foul.

Posted at 62'

Foul by Rhys Williams (Middlesbrough).

Posted at 62'

Alan Judge (Blackburn Rovers) wins a free kick in the defensive half.

Booking

Posted at 61'

Richard Smallwood (Middlesbrough) is shown the yellow card.

Booking

Posted at 61'

Marvin Emnes (Middlesbrough) is shown the yellow card for a bad foul.

Posted at 60'

Foul by Marvin Emnes (Middlesbrough).

Posted at 60'

Joshua King (Blackburn Rovers) wins a free kick in the attacking half.

Posted at 60'

Attempt missed. Kei Kamara (Middlesbrough) header from the centre of the box misses to the right. Assisted by Grant Leadbitter.

Posted at 60'

Attempt blocked. Jonathan Woodgate (Middlesbrough) right footed shot from the centre of the box is blocked.

Posted at 60'

Corner, Middlesbrough. Conceded by Matthew Kilgallon.

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