Middlesbrough’s FA Cup journey ended at the first time of asking for a third consecutive season as Blackburn Rovers won in almost identical fashion to their league win here back in November.

The only difference was their no controversy to their winning goal in this one, as Andi Weimann capitalised on an error-ridden five-minute spell from Boro in a game that otherwise lacked much quality. Boro in response, struggled for much potency in attack throughout.

Michael Carrick made seven changes for the game as he rested key players like Emmanuel Latte Lath and Ben Doak, albeit while both are the subject of interest in the January transfer window. But it was still a strong side, with the likes of Matt Clarke, George Edmundson and Riley McGree back in, but Law McCabe, Alex Gilbert and Micah Hamilton getting rare opportunities to start.

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So many changes can often prove disruptive to rhythm though, and with Blackburn also making five for the game, so it proved. We had to wait until the 33rd minute for the first shot at goal, while neither keeper had a save to make in the first half.

Reminiscent of recent league meeting on Teesside between the two in which Boro enjoyed possession without an end product before being downed by a controversial own goal, Boro were enjoying the ball in this one without being able to break down the stubborn Blackburn defence.

McCabe looked solid in and out of possession while Gilbert looked to take his chance by providing a similar outlet in the holes as Finn Azaz usually would. He linked well with Micah Hamilton in particular, but when it came to that final pass or cross, it just wasn’t quite happening for Carrick’s side.

When McGree finally had Boro’s first effort at goal, it was a tame one that went wide of the near post with his weaker right foot. He had another effort soon after when a recycled corner came back in and almost fell for him, albeit just too awkward to be able to shape his body to direct his volley on target. Dan Barlaser had Boro’s other notable effort from range as he got power but not direction on his strike.

Boro at least upped their attacking tempo in the last 15 minutes of the first half. At the other end, Blackburn were creating little and being caught out by an effective Boro offside trap far too often. Shortly after McGree’s first effort, Andi Weimann almost found a gap in between the centre-backs but Clarke just did enough to knock him off balance to reduce his shot’s power and direction.

It was nearly very reminiscent of that league meeting though when the hosts should have taken the lead in the final five minutes of the first half. A diagonal over the top of Anfernee Dijksteel got Weimann in behind again. This time wide of goal, he cutback from the byline and found young striker Harry Leonard unmarked. From inside the six-yard box he crashed his shot against the crossbar.

After the first-half lull, Boro didn’t have long to wait for their first shot on target in the second half. Six minutes after the restart, a probing long Clarke ball in behind set up nicely for Gilbert after inadvertently coming off Danny Batth’s head. Balazs Toth was required to make an excellent reaction stop to push it over his bar.

Another Barlaser effort from range aside, the visitors quickly got a grip of the second half and continued to stifle a Boro attack that lacked the urgency and incision to ask enough questions of the visitors.

And then, in an error-ridden five minutes for Boro, John Eustace’s side found their moment to win the game. It started when Tom Glover played a poor ball out under pressure, with Weimann ultimately missing an open goal to let the red-faced Boro keeper off.

But just moments later, the Austrian made amends. Capitalising on Clarke’s poor attempt at a defensive clearance, Weimann rushed onto it and hammered it home from around the penalty spot. They could and should have had a second too, when Leonard nicked the ball from a dallying Edmundson but fired wide.

Boro did manage to re-settle. Having already introduced Marcus Forss on his comeback from injury, Carrick showed his intentions by also bringing on Hayden Hackney and Emmanuel Latte Lath from the bench. But a long-range effort from the former aside, Boro didn’t ever look like equalising.

In fact, much like the league meeting two months ago, despite plenty of the ball, Boro ultimately didn’t ever look like scoring all game. Blackburn came and frustrated Boro again - as many sides have had joy in doing. They had the better chances in the game and there could be little complaints this time that they left the victors and put their name in the hat for the fourth round.