A LOOK at the key moments and stats from the Riverside.
FRIEDEL: Misjudged a long ball forward with Noel Whelan chipping him but he was saved...6
TUGAY: Midfield battle with Paul Ince was not as fierce as expected. Had plenty of possession...6
BERG: Stopped a certain goal, racing back to clear off the line. Stable but sacrificed as the manager changed things around...6
SHORT: Kept a tight reign on Dean Windass. Solid at the centre of defence but will now sit out a lengthy ban...7
COLE: Didn't do too much, always had a number of men around him when he got the ball...6
DUFF: Lively opening as he started up front alongside Cole but quietened down after the break and made way for Matt Jansen...6
JOHANSSON: Playing as a left back, tried to get things going from defence. Kept Boro's Mark Wilson relatively quiet...6
HIGNETT: Had a couple of chances at his former club, never stopped running but couldn't make the impact he would have liked...7
GILLESPIE: Some of his crosses fell a little short but got more into game in second half. Moved into more defensive role later...7
TAYLOR: Playing right back, had a steady game before moving back into central role...6
NEILL: Unlucky to be sent off, a harsh decision and the Australian could now miss three crucial Premiership games...6
SUBS: DOUGLAS...(for Berg, 56) lively 6
JANSEN...(for Duff, 62) close with a header 6
HUGHES...(for Gillespie, 89)
NOT USED: Robinson, Curtis
MIDDLESBROUGH
SCHWARZER...Booed by own fans 6
SOUTHGATE...Kept Cole and co quiet 7
MUSTOE...Defender skied great chance 7
INCE...Not such a tiger in midfield 7
EHIOGU...Steady at back 7
WINDASS...Not too effective 6
WILSON...One or two runs 6
MARINELLI...Pacey but largely redundant 6
WHELAN...Vision to almost chip Friedel 6
STOCKDALE...The star 9
QUEDRUE...Steady at left back 6
Subs: NEMETH (for Wilson)...Made difference 7
BOKSIC (for Windass)...Effective 7
MURPHY (for Marinelli)...One great cross 6
Not used...Crossley, Wilkshire
REFEREE...Graham Barber (Hertfordshire) 3
YELLOW: ROVERS: Cole (dissent), Berg (dissent). Hignett (foul), Jansen (Dissent)
RED: ROVERS: Neill
TALE OF THE TAPE
(Rovers first)
2...Corners...1
5...Shots...8
1...Shots on target...4
15...Free kicks conceded...10
5...Offsides...8
0...Woodwork...O
TIME FOR ACTION
08Damien Duff made a break on the right and tried to set up Andy Cole but the Boro defence crowded him out
29First shot on target. Robbie Stockdale's effort was easy for Brad Friedel
33Rovers' one and only shot. Hignett's corner found the head of Henning Berg whose effort through a crowd of bodies was savedlate by Mark Schwarzer
40Great ball by Tugay found Duff on the right wing and he charged to the by-line. He tried to lay the ball into the path of the incoming Cole but the £7.5m man had altered his run and the ball was easy for the Boro defence
45Stockdale sent Noel Whelan charging through, Friedel came out and Whelan chipped the ball over the American but Berg chased back to clear off the line
68Sub Matt Jansen's glancing header from Hignett's corner was just wide
73Stockdale came charging through on the right wing, Lucas Neill was judged to have pulled him down about 20 yards from goal - and the Australian was off
81Nemeth found Mustoe six yards out but he blasted shot his unbelievably over
87Jansen booked for throwing the ball away. Ref moved the free kick forward ten yards. Gareth Southgate took it, Ugo Ehiogu got his head to it. Game over
MIDDLESBROUGH...1
Ehiogu...87
ROVERS...0
At The Riverside: Attendance...20,291
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