MIDDLESBROUGH (4-2-3-1):

6 Konstantopoulos: Decent really have a chance with Blackburn’s goal and made a routine first-half save from Lenihan

6 Nsue: Defensively secure throughout and got forward to deliver the pinpoint cross for Nugent’s headed equaliser

6 Gibson: Edged his personal battle with his former team-mate, Danny Graham, and didn’t look flustered at any stage

6 Ayala: Tried to soldier on after damaging his ankle, but was eventually forced off before the break – could be a big miss tomorrow

8 DE LAET: Impressed as he made his Boro debut and mirrored the injured Friend in terms of marauding runs down the flank

5 Leadbitter: Hard to argue with his defensive work, but remained very deep throughout and couldn’t get his side on the front foot

5 Clayton: One of the midfielder’s quieter displays, with his passing not quite finding its range – seemed reluctant to push too far forward

4 Adomah: Was better on the right than when he was switched to the left, but didn’t really look like producing much all afternoon

3 Kike Sola: A debut to forget for the Spaniard, who looked completely out of his depth before he was taken out of his misery at the interval

4 Downing: Another of Boro’s attacking players to under-perform, although the decision to take him out of the number ten role didn’t make a lot of sense

6 Nugent: Kept on plugging away with very little support, with his persistence rewarded by his sixth goal of the season

 

Subs:

6 Kalas (for Ayala, 45): Came on at centre-half to replace Ayala and looked comfortable – might have to remain there at MK Dons

5 Stuani (for Kike Sola, 46): An improvement on the player he replaced, although that wasn’t saying much, but still struggled to have much of an impact

Rhodes (for Adomah, 77)

(not used): Mejias (gk), Forshaw, de Sart, Ramirez.

 

BLACKBURN (4-3-1-2):

Steele 7; Marshall 7, Ward 6, Hanley 6, Spurr 6; Evans 6, Lenihan 7, Akpan 5; GOMEZ 8 (Bennett 83); Watt 7 (Jackson 73), Graham 6.

Subs (not used): Raya (gk), Kilgallon, Taylor, Duffy, Conway.

 

Man Of The Match: JORDI GOMEZ – The Sunderland loanee might not have a future under Sam Allardyce, but he looks much too good to be plying his trade in the Championship.