BENNI McCarthy came off the bench to rescue a point for Rovers at Ewood Park this Saturday evening.
It looked like Rovers would end the game without anything to show
for their efforts until the South African's 94th minute header grabbed
a welcome point against a stubborn 'Boro side.
The first half was a lively affair, Aliadiere and Santa Cruz both
saw efforts strike the woodwork, whilst Tuncay saw an overhead kick
chalked off for an incorrect offside call, whilst Rovers had two
decent shouts for penalties turned away.
But whilst the second period didn't deliver the same attacking play,
it did deliver goals, Alfonso Alves lashing home against the run of
play on 74 minutes to put the visitors in front.
And it looked like Gareth Southgate's side would hold on for a
much-needed victory until Rovers were awarded an extra-time corner
kick. Paul Robinson added to the chaos in the 'Boro box as Brett Emerton sent over the ball but it was Benni McCarthy who rose first to head home. His first goal since February.
But whilst the late point was more than welcome, the manager will
see it as two dropped as Rovers missed out on the chance to rise
further in the table.
Paul Ince had made four changes from the goalless draw against
Bolton Wanderers seven days earlier. In the run-up to the game the
Rovers boss had spoken of the need to get back amongst the goals and
that meant a double change up front with Matt Derbyshire and the returning Roque Santa Cruz getting the call with Robbie Fowler and Jason Roberts making way.
There was a home debut for Vince Grella whilst Martin Olsson came in at left back, Chris Samba didn't make the 18 through injury, whilst Tugay dropped to the bench.
The game started slowly, both sides taking their time to get into
the game, but it was the visitors who had the first meaningful attack
at goal. As Rovers cleared one attack Chris Riggott sent a header back
in the penalty area, the Rovers stood still as an offside Tuncay
allowed the ball to pass through to where Jeremie Aliadiere struck the
ball past Paul Robinson only for the ball to crash off the crossbar and away to safety. A let-off for the home side.
That woke Rovers up and they went close to opening the scoring themselves, a move made in Australia saw Vince Grella pick out Brett Emerton with a ball over the top, the winger shot near post but Ross Turnbull turned the ball aside.
On the quarter-hour Rovers went even closer, just the width of a
post from taking the lead. Carlos Villanueva, buzzing around the edge
of the area, fed Warnock who in turn found Roque Santa Cruz
in space in the area, he fired past Turnbull but saw the ball strike
the inside of the post and David Wheater put the ball behind.
From the resulting corner kick Santa Cruz was in the thick of the action again, heading Villanueva's corner just over.
But it was Rovers who were breathing a sigh of relief on 24 minutes,
again it was a ball over the Rovers back four, this time from Didier
Digard, Tuncay hit a superb overhead kick into the back of the net but
was rightly annoyed to see the raised flag of the linesman on the far
side.
From that moment until the end of the first half Rovers had the
better of play, Grella breaking up play and passing the ball forward,
Emerton, Warnock and Villanueva willing runners to create openings, the
ball zipping quickly off the wet Ewood turf.
The home side also had a couple of half shouts for penalties, the
first when a Derbyshire header struck Wheater in the area, then another
from a Derbyshire cross that appeared to strike the hand of Andrew
Taylor. Neither decision went Rovers' way.
As the half came to a close Roque Santa Cruz
continued to be a threat to the 'Boro defence, Turnbull had to push
away his header from a Villanueva corner aside, whilst in the final
minute of the half a through ball from Warnock set the Paraguayan free
but he couldn't slide the ball under the advancing 'Boro 'keeper.
Rovers began the second half in sprightly fashion going straight on
the attack, Villanueva cutting in from the right to shoot left-footed
but despite the oohs from the crowd, his effort was well wide.
Paul Ince was given a scare on 50 minutes when from a corner kick, Roque Santa Cruz
went down injured. as Emerton rose to connect with the ball he caught
back of the striker's head. There was initial concern as the Paraguayan
laid prone on the floor, the stretcher bearers were even deployed, but
the home fans were delighted to see Santa Cruz get to his feet and
eventually re-join play.
That delay knocked the wind out of Rovers' sails somewhat, aside from a half chance for Ryan Nelsen from a Brett Emerton free-kick, the game had settled into a midfield battle.
In a bid to regain the advantage Ince threw on Benni McCarthy with Matt Derbyshire making way, the South African immediately in the action, heading a Villanueva cross wide of goal.
On 74 minutes McCarthy was involved in another Rovers chance, Brett Emerton
skipped past a couple of challenges before exchanging passes with
McCarthy, the Australian threaded the ball through to Roque Santa Cruz,
but with a chance to take the ball towards goal it got caught under his
feet and Middlesbrough scrambled the ball away.
Rovers were to regret that missed chance for seconds later they
found themselves behind, a quick ball was launched forward where
Alfonso Alves took the ball down well on the edge of the area before
lashing it past Paul Robinson.
It was a goal that came totally out of the blue, Robinson had been a spectator for the entire second period up until that point.
Keith Treacy came on in the last ten minutes to add a bit of menace
down the left wing, but try as they might Rovers just couldn't open up
a resilient Middlesbrough defence.
But just as it looked like there was to be no way back for Rovers
and they would end the game without the points their play deserved they
on a corner in the dying seconds.
The crowd urged goalkeeper Paul Robinson forward and he obliged, Brett Emerton arrowed the ball towards the man in green but who popped up to head the ball before him? None other than Benni McCarthy who powered the ball home for his first goal since February.
Had Rovers not gained anything from the game it would have been an
injustice, Middlesbrough had offered little as an attacking force in
the second half, but for all Rovers' efforts they didn't threaten Ross
Turnbull's goal on too many occasions, that was, until the 94th minute.
ROVERS: Robinson, Simpson, Ooijer, Nelsen (c),
Olsson (sub Treacy 81 mins), Emerton, Grella, Warnock, Derbyshire (sub
McCarthy 66 mins), Villanueva, Santa Cruz.
Subs: Brown (GK), Tugay, Khizanishvili, Andrews, Roberts.
MIDDLESBROUGH: Turnbull, Taylor, O'Neil, Riggott, Pogatetz, Digard, Aliadiere, Alves, Tuncay (sub Emnes 85 mins), Downing, Wheater.
Subs: Jones (GK), Shawky, A. Johnson, J. Johnson, Grounds.
Booked: Derbyshire, Olsson, Grella (Rovers), Wheater (Middlesbrough).
Attendance: 17,606