Stockport's good record against the First Division's top teams continued as they held second-placed Blackburn to a goalless draw.

Graeme Souness' side followed in the footsteps of Birmingham, Bolton and Fulham in failing to leave Edgeley Park with all three points.

In a frenetic clash, the first half was played with all the gusto associated with a north-west derby.

It was Blackburn, though, who played the more entertaining football prompted by the clever work of England under-21 captain David Dunn and fancy footwork of striker Matt Jansen.

However, it was County who came closer to scoring in the opening period.

Finnish international Shefki Kuqi drilled a free-kick through the Rovers' wall on 14 minutes after Craig Short had fouled Aaron Wilbraham.

Rovers keeper Brad Friedel was happy to save at the second attempt.

Indeed, moments later, an in-swinging corner by Shane Nicholson found Leo Roget but the defender's header sailed just wide.

Rovers soon began to show the form that has taken them into an automatic promotion place.

After 23 minutes, Jansen skipped inside two challenges and teed up Dunn, but the midfielder drilled his shot just wide of Lee Jones' goal.

Keith Gillespie had a chance to snatch the lead for Blackburn on 26 minutes but he snatched at his effort as Jones raced out of his goalmouth.

The game sea-sawed back into County's favour when younger Glynn Hurst controlled Kuqi's through-ball but his dipping effort floated just past Friedel's far post.

Rovers' riposte was swift however, when Jansen skipped inside a posse of County defenders only to see his fierce drive saved superbly by Jones.

From the resulting corner, the livewire striker missed a glaring chance at the far post.

The second half was a much more physical encounter and chances were at a premium.

Dunn came closest to snatching victory for Rovers when he hit a rasping 30-yard free-kick that cannoned off the underside of the bar but eluded the in-rushing Marcus Bent.

Meanwhile Kuqi saw a late effort stopped on the line by a last-ditch tackle by Henning Berg.

Teams

Stockport: Jones, Gibb, Flynn, Clare, Roget, Wiss, Fradin, Nicholson (Clark 66), Kuqi, Hurst (Carrigan 81), Wilbraham.

Subs Not Used: Woodthorpe, Byrne, Bergersen.

Booked: Flynn, Wiss, Clare.

Blackburn: Friedel, Berg, Short, Curtis, Gillespie, Flitcroft, Dunn, Mahon, Bjornebye, Hughes (Bent 67), Jansen.

Subs Not Used: Kelly, Hignett, Johnson, Berkovic.

Booked: Hughes.

Att: 9,705

Ref: D Pugh (Bebington).