Middlesbrough 1 Blackburn Rovers 2

A PROMISING performance but ultimately a sixth straight defeat at the hands of Blackburn Rovers opened Boro's season, writes GORDON COX from the Riverside.

Tuncay Sanli and Jeremie Aliadiere made their Boro debuts as the season got underway in bright sunshine. Tuncay was watched by his national coach Fatih Terim, who was working for Turkish TV at the Riverside.

Chris Riggott was passed fit to play despite playing in just one pre-season friendly and not having started a game since the first week of April. He was accompanied by David Wheater, with Andrew Davies starting at right-back as Luke Young missed making his debut because of a slight groin problem.

Mark Hughes elected to start with Benni McCarthy and Jason Roberts as new signing Roque Santa Cruz started on the bench. Robbie Savage started a Premier League game for the first time since breaking a leg in January.

Rovers seemed to have a plan to try to exploit Andrew Taylor in the early exchanges, playing four diagonal balls over in his direction, but the young full-back and his team-mates stood firm and repelled the challenge.

The first real chance of the game came after seven minutes as Boro attacked with a sweeping move which started in their own half.

Yakubu sped forward with Aliadiere and Sanli to his right. He delayed his pass before picking out Sanli inside the penalty area but slightly wide. A first time ball from the Turk looked destined for Aliadiere in front of an open goal, but Savage did enough to put him off and possibly get the touch which took the ball wide.

Back came Boro and a deep cross from George Boateng found Wheater, whose excellent powerful header brought a full-length save from Brad Friedel.

A 30-yard drive from Stewart Downing was comfortably stopped by the Rovers goalkeeper, who was soon beaten twice by his left-back Stephen Warnock as he conceded corners with back passes.

Boro were playing brightly, but needed a goal to emphasise their superiority.

That came just past the half hour mark.

Not for the first time Christopher Samba fouled Yakubu a few yards up from the edge of the Blackburn penalty area. Stewart Downing stepped up to curl an exquisite low drive around the wall and beyond the despairing dive of Friedel.

Yakubu led the line well, while there was tireless work across the park from the rest of the team. A reverse pass from the Nigerian in the final few minutes of the first half went behind right-back Andre Ooijer and found Aliadiere, but his first time cross was scrambled clear.

It was, though, an indication of Boro's approach and application in the opening half.

Half-time: Middlesbrough 1 Blackburn Rovers 0

Boro started the second half brightly and, after repelling one attack through the excellent Wheater, went on a swift offensive which saw Aliadiere link well with Downing who in turn picked out Sanli with a delightful crossfield ball which the Turk just failed to control.

Hughes was forced into making a change 56 minutes into the game. McCarthy and Davies had challenged for a ball inside the Boro area a few minutes earlier and the South African striker seemed to suffer a delayed reaction and needed several minutes' treatment from physios and paramedics before being taken off on a stretcher while wearing an oxygen mask.

He was replaced by Roque Santa Cruz, who equalised with his first effort in English football. With just over an hour played the Paraguayan international rose high on the edge of the six-yard box to powerfully head home a right-wing cross from David Bentley with 63 minutes played.

Blessed with a sweet turn of pace, Santa Cruz caused problems when the visitors broke quickly. A low ball pulled back to Bentley deserved better than to be struck straight at Taylor.

By now it was an open game but it was stopped for another injury as Aliadiere took a blow in the ribs.

Boateng enjoyed a fine opening game and his determination set up another flowing break, this one ending with a cross from Sanli aimed for Yakubu headed behind.

When a manager makes a substitution and that change results in a goal he has every right to crow. When that happens twice in a game he has the right to believe it his day.

Matt Derbyshire was introduced with 79 minutes played, replacing Jason Roberts. His first touch was to control the ball just in from the right-hand edge of the penalty area, his second was to curl a delightful shot beyond the reach of Mark Schwarzer and into the top corner of the net.

Boro finished well and thought they had equalised in the third of six minutes of injury time when Adam Johnson set up Wheater but his powerful header was scooped off the line by Friedel.

There was an ugly end to the game as players from both sides clashed immediately on the whistle.

Middlesbrough: Schwarzer; Davies, Riggott, Wheater, Taylor, Sanli (Johnson 84), Boateng (Capt), Arca (Cattermole 88), Downing, Yakubu, Aliadiere (Lee 84). Unused subs: Jones (gk); Hines.

Blackburn Rovers: Friedel; Ooijer, Samba, Nelsen (Capt), Warnock, Bentley, Savage, Dunn (Mokoena.89), Pedersen, Roberts (Derbyshire 78), McCarthy (Santa Cruz 60). Unused subs: Brown(gk); Tugay.

Bookings

Boro: Wheater, 26, foul on Bentley; Boateng, 40, foul on Savage; Downing, 52, taking a free-kick too quickly.

Blackburn Rovers: Pedersen, 47, foul on Aliadiere; Ooijer, 51, foul on Boateng; Savage, 70, foul on Downing; Derbyshire, 90 +5, foul on Boateng.

Referee: Andre Marriner, West Midlands.

Attendance: 25,058

Website Boro Man of the Match: George Boateng

Conditions: Warm and sunny.