Blackburn Rovers are through to The FA Cup fourth round for the third successive year after a narrow 1-0 win at Middlesbrough.

John Eustace's side extended their impressive run at The Riverside Stadium and progressed thanks to Andi Weimann's second-half strike.

It was a game that took time to liven up and yet Rovers had several great opportunites to score before they eventually took the lead.

Harry Leonard missed a hat-trick of great chances and will wonder how he didn't net one of them. First, a left-foot volley off the bar after being picked out by Weimann, before he headed the Austrian's cross over at the back post.

Weimann himself was guilty of a shocking miss as he scooped the ball over from three yards having done hard part in closing down and dispossessing goalkeeper Tom Glover. Under pressure, he somehow missed with the net gaping.

But he made amends minutes later by slamming the ball in from 12 yards after a cross was deflected perfectly into his path. He made no mistake this time.

Leonard then spurned his final chance as he ran through but shot wide left-footed with a clear sight of goal.

Middlesbrough had a couple of chances themselves but struggled to make possession count. Balazs Toth denied Alex Gilbert and pushed away a Hayden Hackney shot from range.

But they couldn't break Rovers down once behind and for a second time this season, the away side left with a 1-0 win.

John Eustace named a stronger-than-expected line-up with only five changes. Toth was handed his Rovers debut whilst Leonard made his first start in almost exactly a calendar year.

The bench was packed with youngsters though, including Isaac Dunn, the son of Rovers legend, David. Alongside Harley O'Grady-Macken and Matty Litherland, he was hoping for a first taste of first-team action.

The first half an hour came and went with the action as tepid as the low temperatures on Teesside. Perhaps reflective of a 12pm kick-off between two Championship sides, neither of which would be devastated to lose.

Rovers fashioned the first shot of the match on 35' though as Joe Rankin-Costello fed Weimann in the box. The Austrian got his shot away but failed to test Glover in the Boro net.

Having waited nearly a half for one effort, there was then a flurry before the half-time whistle. Riley McGree had two of those, hitting the second into the ground and wide, before Dan Barlaser shot past the post from the edge of the box.

The best opportunity fell to Leonard, though, who should have scored. It was nice interplay between Owen Beck and Weimann, who crossed perfectly for the striker but he rattled the bar from six-yards out with a left-foot volley.

The 21-year-old was in the thick of the action again after half-time as he rose highest at the back post but couldn't keep another pin-point Weimann cross down.

Toth was then called into action for the first time in a Rovers shirt. Gilbert latched on to a loose header by Danny Batth but saw his snap shot pushed over the bar by the Hungarian goalkeeper.

Leonard was then bundled in the box by Anfernee Dijksteels when through on goal but referee Dean Whitestone waved play away. It looked like a clumsy challenge and the Rovers striker was bemused at the decision, or a lack of.

It seemed unlikely this match-up would spring anything unique and yet, it did. Weimann closed down Glover, his clearance hit the Rovers striker and he had a tap-in. Somehow, under pressure from the scrambling Boro man, he lifted the ball over the bar from three yards.

However, minutes later he made amends. The ball dropped kindly for the Austrian 12 yards out and he smashed it past Glover, making no mistake this time.

From kick-off, it should have been two. Leonard robbed George Edmondson and was through on goal but shot wide on his left foot. He could've had a hat-trick with three great chances spurned.

Middlesbrough huffed and puffed but couldn't break Rovers down once behind. That ensured a second 1-0 away win at The Riverside this season for Eustace's side and a safe route to round four.