The closest either side came was in the closing minutes when Famara Diedhiou's shot was tipped onto a post.

But anything other than a draw would have been unjust.

Blackburn are enduring their worst home run in the league since the end of 2004, while Bristol City remain unbeaten on the road since Nigel Pearson took charge.

Rovers were without Bradley Dack after his cruciate ligament injury but recalled top scorer Adam Armstrong and Lewis Holtby made his first start of the year as part of six changes.

Max O'Leary played in goal for the visitors after illness ruled out Daniel Bentley.

Armstrong misdirected an inviting Barry Douglas cross wide, while former Blackburn loanee Kasey Palmer poked straight at goalkeeper Thomas Kaminski early on.

Rovers' top scorer saw a shot well blocked by Adrian Mariappa in a first half that never got going.

The best chances fell towards the end when Palmer dispossessed a dozing Bradley Johnson but Nahki Wells could only lash wide from 20 yards.

At the other end, a surging Joe Rothwell run opened up space for Joe Rankin-Costello on the right but O'Leary pushed his near-post shot around the post.

It was a similarly laboured affair after the restart. Armstrong headed wide when well-placed in the 55th minute and a delightful Holtby cross only needed a touch to yield an opener moments later.

The Robins made a rare foray forward on the hour mark, with Wells crossing from the left for Palmer, whose first-time drive was directed straight at a grateful Kaminski.

Palmer tried his luck from 25 yards shortly afterwards too, but the keeper made a comfortable diving save.

In the final 10 minutes, Holtby showed his class with a superb touch to bring the ball under control in the area, yet could only find the side-netting.

But Bristol City almost snatched the points after an errant clearance found Diedhiou four minutes from time. He took aim and hammered goal-wards from 25 yards but Kaminski pulled off a terrific save, diving to his left to tip the ball onto the post and preserve the point.