Blackburn came back from the dead to salvage a point in their Premiership game against Middlesbrough at Ewood Park on Saturday.

Substitute Benni McCarthy clinched the point for the home side in the third minute of injury-time after Afonso Alves had given Middlesbrough the lead in the 74th minute. The game itself started out on a cautious note with both sides testing each others defenses.

However it was Rovers who seized the early initiative with Carlos Villanueva smashing a fine shot from just outside the penalty area, but it took a deflection and went just wide of the target. Jeremie Aliadiere replied for Boro when his shot hit the cross bar.

In the 11th minute, Brett Emerton sent a shot goal ward only to see Ross Turnbull save with his legs. Roque Santa Cruz almost gave Rovers the lead in the 16th minute, but his shot rebounded back off the far post after Turnbull was well and truly beaten.

Tuncay then appeared to score with an overhead kick, but he was ruled offside in a dodgy decision that was proved wrong by television replays. After the break Villanueva was in the thick of the things as he shot from 30 yards only to see the ball bounce harmlessly away.

Santa Cruz was injured in the 50th minute when he hurt his neck when colliding with Emerton as they both chased Villanueva's free-kick. He was able to continue after treatment. It was in the 74th minute that the deadlock was finally broken when Alves got away from Ooijer and shot past Robinson.

McCarthy replaced Derbyshire for the Rivers and tried to spark Rovers. However it was only in the third minute of injury time that he headed in Emerton's corner for the equalizer.