Last week they handed two last-gasp goals to Fulham which enabled the visitors to draw, but today it was Boro’s striker Joseph Desire Job came off the bench to strike in the final minute.

It was vindication for manager Steve McClaren, who had been criticised after replacing new Italian striker Massimo Maccarone last week, and who did so again this time.

Job’s appearance was the turning point, and the Cameroonian striker had already come close with one shot before he combined with compatriot Geremi to ruin Blackburn’s afternoon.

Until then, it had seem the game was destined to end goalless with two sides who both play attractive football but appeared to lack a killer instinct.

There had been other good chances for both sides: Andy Cole for Blackburn and Alen Boksic for Boro, but either the finishing was wasteful or the goalkeepers were equal to the efforts.

Maccarone looks as though he could be the man he provides that missing spark for Boro in the future, as he possesses a lovely touch, good pace and a direct approach. The Italian needs more creative support from midfield, though, and when he did turn it on he was invariably let down by his fellow striker Boksic.

Maccarone scored twice on his debut for Middlesbrough last week, but there was no such dream-like start for Blackburn’s new £1.5million signing David Thompson.

The midfielder made a promising if ultimately frustrating debut, with plenty of scampering about on the right but too many passes misdirected.

He did almost break through the Middlesbrough defence during a period of concerted Blackburn pressure in the opening minutes, and the home side were grateful to Robbie Stockdale for a perfectly-timed tackle to win possession.

Maccarone forced Brad Friedel into a diving save after a well-constructed move.

Jonathan Greening slipped the ball wide, Maccarone skipped past Nils-Eric Johansson’s lunge and fired in a shot which Friedel managed to parry before, at the other end, Dwight Yorke just failed to make contact with Lucas Neill’s deep cross and Ugo Ehiogu sliced his attempted clearance over the bar.

Ehiogu looked shaky again after 15 minutes when he underhit a backpass and keeper Mark Schwarzer did well to clear as Cole snapped at his heels.

The centre-back made up for both his errors soon afterwards, though, with crucial blocks to deny first Yorke and then Cole in quick succession.

Middlesbrough almost capitalised when Maccarone broke clear down the right and played in the unmarked Boksic, but the Croatian hesitated as Martin Taylor tried to recover, then slipped as he turned and the Boro faithful howled their frustration.

Cole had an equally good chance to score when Dunn’s astute pass opened up the defence, but the Rovers striker flashed his shot high.

Carlos Marinelli was the next culprit to waste a good opportunity. Boksic harassed Neill down the right, twisting and turning before cutting the ball back to Marinelli, who was unmarked on the edge of the area. The young Argentinian had plenty of time but his first-time strike was horribly wayward.

Four minutes before the break, Cole’s movement earned him space to pick up Johansson’s free-kick and fire in an effort on target only to see Schwarzer turn the ball aside for a corner at full stretch.

Schwarzer was the saviour again when Damien Duff rampaged down the right, cut in past Queudrue and drove for goal but straight at the Boro keeper.

The second half failed to match the first until the drama of the final minutes, though there were isolated moments of interest.

Duff provided a moment of real quality, with a turn so unexpected that Stockdale was left completely bamboozled. Cole rose to meet the ensuing cross but his contact was not clean enough and the ball looped over the bar.

Another exquisite turn by Duff saw the Irish winger beat Geremi, but his cross was too deep for Cole. Duff then threatened again, but Ehiogu, Boro’s chief troubleshooter, stretched out a long leg to block his cross.

Minutes after coming on – to boos from the home fans unhappy at Maccarone leaving the action – Job struck a rising left-footed shot from 20 yards that grazed the angle of post and bar. Friedel then pulled off the save of the game to tip over Geremi’s free-kick, which was bound for the top corner.

Then came the defining moment of the match. Johansson’s error was ultimately to blame, when he tried to control a high ball with his chest but succeeded only in giving the ball to Geremi. The Cameroonian burst down the right and crossed low for Job to finish from six yards.