A MUCH-IMPROVED second half performance wasn’t enough to prevent Middlesbrough from slipping to another defeat as the troubled start to the Championship season continued for Michael Carrick’s side.

The 2-1 defeat at Blackburn means Boro have now lost five of their first six games and remain bottom of the Championship table.

They created enough chances in the last half an hour to head back to Teesside with at least a point, but unless Boro dramatically improve in both boxes, results won't improve.

Ultimately, Carrick's side once again paid the price for poor defending that allowed Rovers to take control of the game and go 2-0 up and poor finishing that prevented them from getting something from the game.

The excellent Sammie Szmodics fired Blackburn in front just after the half hour mark and scored his second four minutes after the restart. Both goals were entirely avoidable and poor from Boro’s perspective. Carrick’s side continue to be troubled by their defensive issues and have now conceded 13 goals in six games, though Seny Dieng was the visiting side’s best player at Ewood Park, making a number of crucial and impressive stops.

But the head coach will be encouraged by the spirited attempt at a fightback, which was sparked by Matt Crooks’ goal 10 minutes into the second half. That changed the game and Boro were on top for the last half an hour, but couldn’t make their dominance count and missed a string of chances.

After the disappointing showing against QPR last time out, changes to the side were inevitable, but two of the five alterations Carrick made were forced.

Paddy McNair returned from international duty with a knock and was only fit enough for a place on the bench, with Rav van den Berg coming into the side at right-back, while on the opposite side of the backline Alex Bangura came in for his full debut in place of Lukas Engel, who was missing with a foot injury.

Further forward, Carrick completely changed the make-up of the three attackers playing off Emmanuel Latte Lath, with Marcus Forss, Matt Crooks and Lewis O’Brien replacing Sammy Silvera, Morgan Rogers and Isaiah Jones.

The attackers struggled to get into the game early on, for it was the home side on the front foot. Rovers should have been ahead after just two minutes when Tyhrys Dolan missed a sitter, heading over from close range with the open net gaping.

Blackburn didn’t let Boro settle and enjoyed early joy down the right flank. Sam Gallagher broke away and teed up captain Lewis Travis, who forced a smart stop out of Seny Dieng. Dieng was sloppy with his distribution soon after and gifted play to Rovers with Boro outnumbered at the back, but Sammie Szmodics was careless and played in Sam Gallagher when the striker was clearly in an offside position.

Boro settled and enjoyed a spell of possession, but couldn’t carve out a clear cut chance, Howson and O’Brien both missing the target with efforts from outside the box.

And Carrick’s side then found themselves behind just after the half hour mark. Right-back Brittain had the better of Boro’s left side throughout the first half and it was too easy for the right-back to advance before playing in Szmodics, who found the bottom corner.

The goal sparked something of a reaction from Boro, with Forss managing a first shot on target for Carrick’s side, denied by Pears at his front post. There was a chance for Latte Lath but the striker headed a Howson cross straight into the hands of Pears.

In truth, though, Carrick’s side were fortunate to just be a single goal behind at the break. Gallagher should have doubled Blackburn’s lead in the final minute of the first half but the unmarked striker headed wide from inside 12 yards.

Blackburn again went close just 20 seconds into the second half when disorganised Boro somehow found themselves outnumbered at the back. Dieng came to the rescue, denying Dolan.

But the keeper could do nothing about Blackburn’s second goal just four minutes after the restart. It was too easy again, Szmodics unmarked and unpressured on the edge of the box and allowed to pick his spot after being teed up by Travis.

The writing looked to be on the wall but Boro gave themselves hope six minutes later. Howson picked out Forss in the box and although the winger scuffed his effort, Crooks was on hand to turn home from close range.

Immediately after the goal, Blackburn had a penalty shout waved away when Dolan hit the deck under the challenge of Dieng. But the Crooks goal changed the game and Boro were now the team in the ascendancy.

Latte Lath fired over from close range, a Forss shot flashed just wide, Pears denied O’Brien at full-stretch and Crooks headed over from close range.

Carrick was forced into his first change after Bangura suffered an injury. Sammy Silvera was introduced, with O’Brien dropping to left-back. With quarter of an hour to play, Riley McGree entered the action, replacing goalscorer Crooks.

The substitute almost repeated his Bolton heroics with a shot from the edge of the area that was just too high. Eight minutes of stoppage time were added but Boro couldn’t find an equaliser. Latte Lath had a glorious chance in added time when he was played in one-on-one but his touch was too heavy and allowed Pears to make a save.