Tees

Middlesbrough boss Kim Hellberg has challenged his players to rediscover their best form in front of goal when the Championship resumes following the international break.

Boro signed off with a goalless draw at relegation-threatened Blackburn Rovers, and in doing so lost ground on league leaders Coventry City, while failing to take advantage of promotion rivals Ipswich Town and Millwall playing out a draw.

Goals have not been hard to come by since Hellberg's appointment in November, but as the conclusion of this season nears, the Swede hopes for better fortunes in the run-in.

He told BBC Radio Tees: "We're doing our best, we kept a clean sheet away from home, we're trying to score, we created a lot of opportunities, but it didn't fall for us.

"Of course we need to score goals. If we don't, we won't win games.

"It's my responsibility to find ways of scoring goals for the players. Sometimes it feels weird because, over my time here, we've scored the most goals in that time.

"Still, we had that spell where we went four games without scoring a goal and we've scored less in home games, where we've scored many goals before. There are ups and downs.

"It's about the creativity and we must keep creating chances. That gives us a lot of belief because, otherwise, if we were struggling in that part...sometimes you need things to fall for you.

"In the first half, we had chances. Then that would have opened up the game. It is what it is. We work with them everyday to keep getting better - that is of course my responsibility."

Middlesbrough head coach Kim Hellberg knows that his team will not gain automatic promotion unless they sharpen up their act in front of goal.

It is now one goal in three games after they were held to a goalless draw at relegation-threatened Blackburn Rovers.

While it was a third blank in a run of eight matches in which Boro have taken only 10 points as their promotion push stutters.

The Teessiders had over 70% of possession and missed some good chances in the first half but they lost momentum after the break.

It was a familiar story for Hellberg, who was pleased with much of his side's work at Ewood Park, even if the most important thing was lacking.

"It was a very, very good first half," said the Swede.

"The first 15, 20 minutes of the second half felt very good but then it became open from us trying to chase the game.

"We wanted it so much that we lost a bit of control and quality in terms of how we played, but it was a good performance in many ways.

"We're doing our best, we kept a clean sheet away from home, we're trying to score, we created a lot of opportunities, but it didn't fall for us.

"Of course we need to score goals. If we don't, we won't win games."

"I do believe Ipswich potentially have got more ways to win. If Middlesbrough don't unlock that formula of breaking teams down when they are sitting in that lower block and making things hard, that can do for them in terms of that top-two place."

Coventry are seven points clear at the top of the Championship and look well set for a place in next season's Premier League.

In the latest 72+ podcast, the team discuss why Ipswich Town might be the favourites for the second automatic promotion spot.

They also preview Saturday's huge game at Portman Road between Ipswich and a Millwall side eyeing the same prize.

Listen on BBC Sounds