Neil Warnock blasted the officiating after Middlesbrough suffered a triple whammy that saw them denied a penalty, lose the wounded Dael Fry and victors Blackburn remain with 11 men on the field.
Warnock, 72, claimed Fry almost lost an eye after being kicked in the face by Rovers’ on-loan Everton defender Jarrad Branthwaite contesting a a Paddy McNair cross into the area just shy of the quarter hour.
Fry, who stands 6ft 3ins, hit the turf screaming as his header flew wide and had to be substituted. The gash was stitched up in the home dressing room as the match continued.