MIDDLESBROUGH hauled themselves off the foot of the Premiership with a spirited display at the Riverside Stadium last night. A well worked goal from Juninho and an attractive second, made by him for Fabrizio Ravanelli, ensured their team's third consecutive league victory - the first time in six months they have managed such a feat - even if Chris Sutton's consolation goal made for a tense finish.
This was Boro's first encounter with Rovers since their match at Ewood Park was called off in controversial fashion last December, and the Riverside public wasted little time in making their decidedly frosty feelings heard.
That cost their team a deduction of three league points - although George Carman QC intends to rectify that at next Wednesday's FA appeal hearing - but, the gist of their argument ran, at least they had Wembley to look forward to.
Not that Middlesbrough's League Cup ambitions will be much enhanced by the fact that their most influential playmaker will be halfway around the globe four days before the final. Juninho, concerned about losing his international place, has been selected for Brazil's game with Chile on April 2nd.
Rovers began well, finding space to exploit around a three man midfield. Even a 22 yard volley from Claytin Blackmore, which beat Tim Flowers, but dipped on to the crossbar, failed to conceal Middlesbrough's anxiety. Ravanelli inexplicably fired wide from close range when set clear by a clever Mikkel Beck flick, but Rovers were faring little better near goal and Juninho predictably took advantage.
Two minutes from the interval, he scampered on to Phil Stamp's pass after combining with Ravanelli and shot beneath the diving Flowers.
From then it was a different match, Craig Hignett suddenly finding room to roam and Juninho's distribution taking on magical proportions. One particularly prescient pass sent Ravanelli clear of a half hearted offside trap to slot his 26th goal of the season through the goalkeeper's legs.
Bookings for Colin Hendry and Kevin Gallacher underlined Blackburn's dishevelment before Sutton, Per Pedersen's replacement, popped up to give Rovers hope by nodding home Jason Wilcox's well weighted cross.
