Boro were beaten in what was opponents Blackburn's 5,000th league fixture.
Blackburn: Pears, Brittain, Carter, Hyam, Pickering, Travis (Rankin-Costello 76'), Adam Wharton (Hill 95'), Hedges, Szmodics (Leonard 94'), Dolan (Moran 59'), Gallagher (Telalovic 59')
Subs: Hill, Rankin-Costello, Wahlstedt, Scott Wharton, Markanday, Leonard, Moran, Garrett, Telalovic
Middlesbrough: Dieng, van den Berg, Fry, Lenihan, Bangura (Silvera 69'), Howson (Coburn 88'), O'Brien, Forss (Rogers 87'), Crooks (McGree 77'), Hackney, Latte Lath
Subs: Barlaser, McGree, Rogers, Jones, McNair, Silvera, Coburn, Glover, Greenwood