Blackburn 2-1 Middlesbrough

By Matt Braithwaite

Benni McCarthy (left) celebrates his goal with David Bentley

Benni McCarthy headed home the winner as Blackburn secured a hard-fought victory in a mudbath at Ewood Park.

Shabani Nonda opened the scoring for the home side in the ninth minute when he volleyed in Lucas Neill's cross.

Middlesbrough's Yakubu equalised from the penalty spot in the second half, sending Brad Friedel the wrong way after Neill impeded Emanuel Pogatetz.

But McCarthy rose to head Robbie Savage's cross into the top corner on 74 minutes and secure the points.

Blackburn had the best of the early exchanges, with Middlesbrough's Andrew Davies forced to clear David Bentley's cross, but it looked like being a difficult afternoon on a heavy pitch.

Despite the conditions, Nonda looked lively and soon fired Blackburn into the lead, allowing Neill's cross to drop over his shoulder and placing a right-foot volley past Mark Schwarzer from 12 yards.

606 DEBATE: Your reaction to Blackburn's win

A rare break for Boro saw James Morrison fire high and wide from just inside the area on 24 minutes, but otherwise Blackburn dominated.

Mark Viduka's clever turn and pass put through Lee Cattermole but Savage was alert to the danger and put the ball out for a corner.

Yakubu then saw a shot stop in the mud around Rovers' penalty spot and Schwarzer conceded a corner when, after gathering the ball, he slithered out of play, but Blackburn were unable to capitalise from the resulting corner.

Despite the conditions, both sides tried to play football and a sweeping Blackburn move fizzled out when Nonda failed to control Tugay's pass in the penalty area.

Shabani Nonda scored Blackburn's opener

The rain abated as the second half began but goalmouth chances were still at a premium, the first shot coming from Boro's Morrison, whose effort was blocked by Neill.

Neill was then the villain when he hauled down Pogatetz in the box and Yakubu stroked the resulting penalty into the bottom left corner as Friedel dived the other way.

Immediately from the kick-off Pogatetz and Neill clashed again, Pogatetz challenging Neill in the Middlesbrough penalty area, but nothing was given.

As the tempo of the game rose, Yakubu directed a header straight at Friedel and at the other end McCarthy mis-kicked when presented with a good chance.

McCarthy then put the home side ahead when he rose to head Savage's cross into the top corner.

Nonda, Bentley and Matt Derbyshire all wasted chances to extend the lead as Rovers finished the stronger to claim all three points.

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Blackburn manager Mark Hughes:
"It was difficult to play our normal game today and we had to battle. In the end I think we deserved it and we could have won more handsomely in the end.

"We have now got four wins out of five and that is a decent run.

"It is very similar to the run we had last season when we went on to have a better second half of the season, so hopefully we will kick on."

Middlesbrough manager Gareth Southgate:
"There is no question it was difficult but we did not do enough in the first half to win the game, and in the second half we threw it away a bit.

"For 20 minutes of the second half we were stronger and it looked like we had got a bit of momentum.

"But when we looked like the likely winners we conceded a goal, and I am bitterly disappointed about that."

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Blackburn: Friedel, Emerton, Todd, Ooijer, Neill, Bentley, Savage, Kerimoglu (Mokoena 68), Pedersen, Nonda (Derbyshire 85), McCarthy.
Subs Not Used: Brown, Henchoz, Peter.

Booked: Neill.

Goals: Nonda 9, McCarthy 74.

Middlesbrough: Schwarzer, Davies (Christie 84), Woodgate, Pogatetz, Taylor, Morrison (Johnson 84), Boateng (Euell 78), Cattermole, Downing, Yakubu, Viduka.
Subs Not Used: Jones, Parnaby.

Booked: Pogatetz, Davies, Cattermole.

Goals: Yakubu 61 pen.

Att: 22,653

Ref: M Atkinson (W Yorkshire).