Blackburn Rovers 1 Middlesbrough 1
5:34pm Saturday 19th January 2008
IT is now just one defeat in seven matches for Middlesbrough on their travels, although they must wonder how they failed to win this competitive encounter.
After a first half in which Blackburn Rovers must have felt hard done by to be behind to David Wheater's 14th minute opener at half-time, Boro's willingness to attack caused all manner of problems for the hosts.
And, despite being frustrated by the way Matt Derbyshire was given the freedom of Ewood Park to equalise 14 minutes from time, Middlesbrough's positive play going forward will have heartened manager Gareth Southgate.
But, once again, Southgate was left to rue the absence of a prolific striker. Afonso Alves, Wagner Love or Fred, any of those are likely to have found the net here.
The evidence again, after missing a series of good chances to win this fixture, suggests that if Southgate can bring in the right forward before January 31, Middlesbrough will stay up.
Instead, having failed to win at Rovers, the threat of relegation remains and their will now be added importance when struggling Wigan arrive at the Riverside Stadium two weeks today.