Blackburn come from behind to snatch all three points thanks to the two spuer subs Santa Cruz and Derbyshire, Middlesbrough will be dissapointed they didn't get anything out of this one.

Derbyshire goes into the book after demonstranting some unsporting behaviour.

Downing swings in a last ditch corner for Middlesbrough but Savage swings his leg at the ball to clear it away from danger.

Friedel pulls off an outstanding save from a Wheater header from six yards out after a Downing cross.

Dong-Gook cuts a ball back for Yakubu to attack with his head from inside the area, the attempt at goal taking a deflection and earning Middlesbrouh a corner.

The fourth official indicates there will be six minutes of added on time after the injury to Benni McCarthy.

Aaron Mokoena comes as David Dunn leaves the field.

Lee Cattermole comes on to replace Julio Arca

Stewart Downing is lucky to still be on the pitch after pole-axing Nelsen, the referee taking no action against the winger.

The second change is Sanli Tuncay as Adam Johnson takes his place.

Jeremie Aliadiere is brought off and is replaced by Dong-Gook Lee

Blackburn turn it around thanks to Matt Derbyshire's second touch of the game, his first controling Santa Cruz's flick on, the second to bend the ball past Schwarzer with a delightful finish.

Jason Roberts comes off to be replaced by Matt Derbyshire.

Tuncay floats a cross in towards the far post which Friedel and Yakubu miss leaving Ooijer to hammer the ball away.

Bentley gets away from his marker and stands a cross up towards Santa Cruz at the far post but the strikers header hits Wheater who clears the danger away from goal.

Santa Cruz again proves to be the catalyst, setting up the chance for Bentley this time but the midfielders shot is blocked well by Taylor.

Savage goes into the referee's book after pulling down Downing.

Downing takes the second corner, sending it to the far post this time looking for Tuncay but the Turkish midfielder can't direct the ball and Rover recover.

Downing floats an outswing corner towards Wheater who wins the header but can only send it straight at Samba who turns it behind for another corner.

Pedersen smashes another freekick, this time getting it around the wall but Taylor blocks the shot and carries it away for Boro.

Santa Cruz has made a huge impact of the game, turning the game on its head as Rovers begin to gain control.

Roque Santa Cruz scores after being on the pitch for just three minutes, converting a Bentley cross with a powerful header into the far right of the goal.

Benni McCarthy is stretchered off and is replaced by Roque Santa Cruz.

Its gets worse for Rovers fans as Benni McCarthy goes down and is now surrounded by paramedics and physio's, it doesn't look good for last seasons topscorer for Rovers.

Downing is at the centre of another Middlesbrough move, this time swinging in a cross for the two Boro strikers to atack but its just too far ahead of both of them as the ball rolls out of play.

Downing takes the free kick again but its a poor delievery this time as it strikes the two man wall, giving Rovers the chance to clear.

Downing is adjudged to have taken the free kick to quickly and gets a yellow card for it, a crazy decision in the Middlesbrough fans eyes.

Samba becomes the second Rovers player to go into the book after tripping Yakubu.

Arca has a snap shot from just outside the area but the midfielder drags his shot well wide of goal as another chance is wasted.

Morten Gamst Pedersen is booked after pulling Jeremie Aliadiere down as the Frenchman got away from the Norweigan midfielder.

Pedersen hammers a freekick towards goal but its a poor attempt as it strikes the wall and Middlesbrough clear the ball.

Middlesbrough get the second half underway hoping to carry on their good performance from the first half.

Middlesbrough go in with a deserved lead at half time after a good performance against a Rovers side who have looked very sluggish for much of the opening 45 minutes.

Frustrations are boiling over on the touchline as the referee is forced to have a word with Mark Hughes after the Rovers manager said something he didn't like.

Tuncay undoes the Blackburn defence with a great flick on for Yakubu but the striker is deemed to have just made his run slightly to early and the game is stopped for offside.

Bentley delievers another poor cross, trying to stand the ball up towards the far post but it just curls out of play as Rovers waste another chance.

The fourth official indicates there will be two minutes of added on time.

Yakubu flicks a ball over the top of the Rovers defence for Downing who looks to give it back to the Nigerian but Nelsen does well to cut out the pass inside the box.

Boateng is booked after a late tackle on Robbie Savage, something which the crowd didn't mind.

Arca gets away from his marker and nearly slides a ball through the Rovers defence for Aliadiere but Smba sticks out a long leg to block the pass and cut out the danger.

Savage playsa clever ball through the Middlesbrough defence for Roberts to chase but the Rovers striker is caught offside after starting his run just a little too early.

Downing hits a long ball into the penalty area for Tuncay but Warnock is there to head the ball away from danger.

Stewart Downing gives middlesbrough a deserved lead after converting a free kick by powering the ball through a badly put together Blackburn wall as the ball sneaked in at the near post with Friedel left stranded.

Davies sends in a deep cross for Downing to attack at the far post which the England winger manages but can't get any power on the header as Friedel gathers easily.

Wheater goes into the referee's book after the Middlesbrough defender brought down Bentley with a rough tackle.

Downing takes another corner which Riggot flicks on for Wheater but the youngster was expecting the knock on and the chance goes begging for the home side.

Downing floats in another corner, sending it towards the near post but Friedel punches the ball away only for Downing to cross again but finding no one this time.

Bentley swings in another dangerous looking ball for someone to attack but it proves to be too close to Schwarzer who catches the ball despite the challenge from Samba.

Dowing attempts a shot from long range buts its straight at Friedel who has no trouble gathering the ball.

Dunn threads a nice ball through the Middlesbrough defence for Roberts to chase who nearly reaches the ball but Schwarzer shows he is no slouch by gathering the ball well.

Downing swings in a free kick towards goal but its an easy one for Friedel to gather who claims the ball unchallenged.

Boateng whips in a great cross from the right and finds Wheater who powers a header at goal forcing Friedel into a great save low down to the goalkeepers right.

Pedersen and bentley combine well to set-up McCarthy who slots the ball home but before the Rovers fans can celebrate play is brought back after Pedersen was caught offside.

Pedersen swings in another corner which finds it way to the edge of the penalty area for Dunn to strike but the midfielder hits his shot into the ground and Aliadiere clears the ball from danger.

Middlesbrough's counter-attack flies up the field as Yakubu and Aliadiere combine well before Savages puts in a great tackle to prevent Aliadiere from shhoting.

Pedersen floats in Blackburns first corner of the game, sending it towards the near post but Mark Schwarzer punches away and launches a Boro counter-attack.

Bentley gets away from Taylor down the flank and fires in a cross for Roberts and McCarthy but its a few yards ahead of the strikers as Middlesbrough clear the ball.

Downing takes the corner but its cleared away by a towering header from Ryan Nelsen as Rovers try to counter attack.

Jeremie Aliadiere poses an early threat getting in an early cross and hitting Warnock to earn Boro their first corner of the match.

Blackburn get the game underway here at the Riverside, both sides hoping to get off to a flying start.

Blackburn: Friedel, Ooijer, Samba, Nelsen, Warnock, Bentley, Dunn, Savage, Pedersen, McCarthy, Roberts

Blackburn welcome back Robbie Savage after the Welshman broke his leg last season, while new signing Santa Cruz starts on the bench. Rovers are without Reid and Berner as they look to record a sixth successive win over Boro.

Middlesbrough: Schwarzer, Davies, Riggott, Wheater, Taylor, Sanli, Arca, Boateng, Downing, Yakubu, Aliadiere

Middlesbrough hand debuts to Tuncay Sanli and Jeremie Aliadiere but are facing a defensive crisis with Woodgate, Huth, Pogatez and Rochemback all missing as well as summer signing Luke Young.