Jonny Howson has now scored six goals in 176 league games for Middlesbrough
Middlesbrough and Blackburn Rovers both finished with 10 men as they shared the points at the Riverside Stadium.
Sam Gallagher put the visitors in front after 17 minutes, before Boro captain Jonny Howson equalised before half-time.
Blackburn defender Hayden Carter was sent off late on for two bookings, and he was quickly joined by home midfielder Samy Morsy, who was shown a straight red for a late challenge.
The result keeps both teams mid-table in the Championship, with one defeat apiece from their five games.
The match pitched together the Championship's oldest manager in Neil Warnock and the longest-serving in Tony Mowbray, but the latter is more likely to be happy with a point.
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Blackburn have not found a replacement for last season's top scorer Adam Armstrong and are having to ask for more from players like Gallagher.
He grabbed his second of the season when he rifled in after being set up by debutant Ian Poveda-Ocampo, who has signed on a season's loan from Leeds.
But Boro struck back when Howson rounded off an excellent counter attack, finishing off an excellent pass from Anfernee Dijksteel.
They threatened a winner and there was almost a dream goal on debut for Tayosi Olusanya, who had been preparing for the season at National League South Billericay Town. He looked set for a tap-in but for a crucial block from Rovers captain Darragh Lenihan.
Carter picked up a second yellow for a foul on Paddy McNair before Morsy's challenge on substitute Tyler Magloire was deemed worthy of a red by referee Michael Salisbury.
Middlesbrough manager Neil Warnock told BBC Radio Tees:
"We played some good stuff today, probably as good as since I've been here. But we didn't have that clinical finishing.
"We had very little on the bench today to change so I suppose in the end you don't want to lose the game. But if this had been a boxing match, the referee would have stopped it.
"I thought Jonny Howson was 10 out of 10 today, that's the best game I've seen him have since I've been here."
Blackburn manager Tony Mowbray told BBC Radio Lancashire:
"It wasn't very nice. It takes two teams to play a football match and Middlesbrough really deny you from playing.
"They're very combative and man-for-man in midfield. It was a real eye-opener for young Leighton Clarkson and Ian Poveda-Ocampo to play against that today.
"I thought Boro were good. They were at it and on the front foot, so we'll take the point, put it in the bag and move on to the next game."
- Line-upsMatch StatsLive Text
Line-upsMiddlesbrough
Formation 3-5-2
1Lumley17McNair4Hall6Fry2Dijksteel5Morsy7Tavernier16Howson35Jones18Watmore25Crooks
- 1Lumley17McNair4Hall6Fry2Dijksteel5MorsyBooked at 81mins7Tavernier16Howson35JonesSubstituted forBolaat 77'minutes18WatmoreSubstituted forOlusanyaat 67'minutesBooked at 87mins25Crooks
Substitutes
- 10Payero13Olusanya14Peltier22Bamba27Bola28Daniels37Coburn
Blackburn
Formation 4-5-1
1Kaminski24Carter26Lenihan5Ayala3Pickering22Brereton DÃaz30Poveda-Ocampo19Clarkson27Travis8Rothwell9Gallagher
- 1Kaminski24CarterBooked at 79mins26Lenihan5Ayala3Pickering22Brereton DÃaz30Poveda-OcampoSubstituted forBuckleyat 60'minutes19ClarksonSubstituted forDolanat 60'minutesBooked at 90mins27TravisBooked at 87mins8RothwellSubstituted forMagloireat 45'minutes9Gallagher
Substitutes
- 6Davenport10Dolan13Pears14Butterworth17Chapman21Buckley36Magloire
Referee:Michael SalisburyMatch StatsHome TeamMiddlesbroughAway TeamBlackburnPossessionHome61%Away39%ShotsHome11Away6Shots on TargetHome4Away1CornersHome11Away5FoulsHome9Away7Live TextPost update
Match ends, Middlesbrough 1, Blackburn Rovers 1.
90'+7'Full Time
Second Half ends, Middlesbrough 1, Blackburn Rovers 1.
90'+6'Post update
Offside, Middlesbrough. Jonny Howson tries a through ball, but Grant Hall is caught offside.
90'+4'Post update
Marc Bola (Middlesbrough) wins a free kick in the attacking half.
90'+4'Post update
Foul by John Buckley (Blackburn Rovers).
90'+4'Booking
Tyrhys Dolan (Blackburn Rovers) is shown the yellow card for a bad foul.
90'+3'Post update
Patrick McNair (Middlesbrough) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
90'+3'Post update
Foul by Tyrhys Dolan (Blackburn Rovers).
90'+3'Post update
Offside, Middlesbrough. Marc Bola tries a through ball, but Matt Crooks is caught offside.
89'Post update
Corner, Blackburn Rovers. Conceded by Jonny Howson.
88'Post update
Corner, Middlesbrough. Conceded by Lewis Travis.
87'Booking
Toyosi Olusanya (Middlesbrough) is shown the yellow card.
87'Booking
Lewis Travis (Blackburn Rovers) is shown the yellow card for a bad foul.
86'Post update
Toyosi Olusanya (Middlesbrough) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
86'Post update
Foul by Lewis Travis (Blackburn Rovers).
86'Post update
Corner, Blackburn Rovers. Conceded by Grant Hall.
85'Post update
Corner, Blackburn Rovers. Conceded by Patrick McNair.
85'Post update
Attempt blocked. Ben Brereton DÃaz (Blackburn Rovers) right footed shot from the centre of the box is blocked. Assisted by Sam Gallagher.
81'Dismissal
Sam Morsy (Middlesbrough) is shown the red card.
81'Post update
Foul by Sam Morsy (Middlesbrough).
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Source: bbc.com