Last-gasp Dickov does damage as Rovers shatter Boro dreams

Middlesbrough 0 Blackburn 1

The Scot fired home in the 90th minute to cap an impressive display by the visitors as Boro misfired once again in front of 14,710 spectators.

Boro were wasteful in possession and created little, with teenage winger Adam Johnson contributing their only two attempts of any note with shots which Brad Friedel collected easily, although the Teessiders should have gone ahead three minutes before half-time.

Left-back Pogatetz sent a long free-kick into the box which Rovers failed to deal with and the ball fell to Gareth Southgate eight yards out, but as he fell back, he stabbed his effort wide.

Right-back Matthew Bates, who had earlier clashed heads with team-mate Chris Riggott, failed to reappear after the break and Stuart Parnaby took his place, although his introduction had little to do with the chance which came his side’s way within seconds of the restart.

Jimmy Floyd Hasselbaink turned the ball into the path of Brazilian midfielder Fabio Rochemback wide on the right and his cross seemed perfect for 11-goal striker Aiyegbeni Yakubu to pull the trigger.

However, the Nigerian decided to dummy the ball with no red shirt behind him, and the opportunity went begging.

Boro were at least showing greater enterprise, but continued to look vulnerable at the back, although a little less frequently.

Rovers, however, found themselves stretched in defence on 55 minutes when Rochemback, who had a poor first-half, picked out Johnson on the left with a driven long pass and the youngster turned it instantly across goal - where Yakubu only just failed to make contact.

But Blackburn would have been in front two minutes later had first Parnaby and then Riggott not dived in bravely to deny Morten Gamst Pedersen and Dickov in quick succession with Kuqi again the catalyst.

The game was opening up and Yakubu passed up another chance on 62 minutes when he ran on to Rochemback’s pass but he scuffed his shot wide, although the visitors were guilty of a glaring miss a minute later.

Central defender Ryan Nelsen somehow got himself free at the back post to meet Pedersen’s free-kick, but with the goal at his mercy, he directed his header wide.

Rochemback saw a long-range shot deflected wide on 65 minutes, but McClaren opted for change with 20 minutes remaining when he replaced Johnson with striker Maccarone.

David Bentley sliced a shot horribly wide on 74 minutes after finding space on the right and Tugay ballooned another high over, but the game was heading inexorably for extra-time.

Savage tested Schwarzer at his near post and Nelsen sent another header wide from a Bentley corner as time ran down, but the breakthrough was to come with barely seconds of the 90 minutes remaining.

Parnaby could only head Lucas Neill’s long ball out to Kuqi, and when his shot was deflected into Dickov’s path, the Scot made no mistake.

There was even later drama when Maccarone fired against the post from a Yakubu cross, but Rovers managed to hang on for a deserved victory.

MIDDLESBROUGH: Schwarzer, Bates (Parnaby 45), Riggott, Southgate, Pogatetz, Rochemback, Doriva, Boateng (Queudrue 83), Johnson (Maccarone 70), Hasselbaink, Yakubu.

BLACKBURN: Friedel, Neill, Todd, Nelsen, Gray, Bentley (Reid 90), Savage, Tugay, Pedersen (Emerton 68), Kuqi, Dickov.

Ref: A Wiley.