GRAEME Souness can expect a knock on his office door this week and the odds are it could well be Garry Flitcroft asking for a pay rise.

For Blackburn Rovers' currently redundant midfield enforcer has found his value soaring -- through not even playing!

Over the last 12 months the injured hardman has proved himself to be a very effective minder -- a snarling guard dog who warns off unwelcome intruders at the first scent of danger.

And if anyone needed reminding just how important Flitty's 'muscle' really is then it was underlined here in the clearest possible terms as Rovers surrendered their proud unbeaten home record with barely a whimper in his absence.

Expectations, understandably, have gone through the roof at Ewood in recent weeks following some excellent performances against the Premiership's leading lights.

But Souness delivered an ominous pre-match warning in his programme notes on Saturday that survival remains the top priority.

And, after Alen Boksic sealed the points for Boro in bizarre fashion, those fears proved to be well founded on a day when Rovers' luck completely deserted them.

"It was a frustrating afternoon and we just didn't get going at all until the second half," conceded Souness.

"I felt it took us 45 minutes to get the Manchester City game out of our systems and the second half became a bit like that City game as well.

"We had all the ball, we had them penned in but the difference was we were chasing a goal and they defended very, very well.

"So it's disappointing because on another day we might have got a little bit of luck around the box like they did for their goal.

"But that's football -- it's never been any different."

Flitcroft's absence from the Ewood engine room was certainly apparent in an end-to-end first half in which Boro were granted far too much room for manoeuvre in midfield.

Former Manchester United starlet Jonathan Greening, in particular, revelled in the oceans of space as Rovers were slow to react to the second ball.

And it was only when Souness stuck an extra man in midfield -- albeit a defender -- at the break, that they managed to plug the yawning gaps.

But give credit where credit's due.

Rovers' lethargic display was partly of their own making and partly a result of a highly-accomplished away performance from the visitors.

Boro might have made a calamitous start to the season but they are now beginning to find their feet under new boss Steve McClaren.

And under the England coach's careful guidance, they are fast developing into an organised, well-drilled unit who break quickly from midfield with real menace.

The real key to their success, however, is the defensive solidity provided by Gareth Southgate and Ugo Ehiogu.

Their partnership at the back looks rock solid, as three successive clean sheets testifies, and they hardly put a foot wrong in an immaculate performance.

Rovers, for their part, were toothless in attack but that should not be taken as a slur against either Matt Jansen or the recalled Egil Ostenstad because strikers are, ultimately, only as good as the service they receive.

That said, however, it's now imperative that Rovers make the recruitment of a proven targetman their top priority.

Jansen, for all his lavish skills, is in urgent need of some extra physical support up front in the form of a John Hartson-type figure.

And if Souness can find the right man, that could make the difference between finishing in midtable and pushing for the top six -- a fact the manager and his backroom staff are clearly aware of.

In the mean time, back to Saturday and with tough fixtures against Leeds and Newcastle looming large on the horizon, a win against Boro would have provided some welcome breathing space.

But, after Boksic's fluke strike, it was difficult to imagine where an equaliser would come from.

Admittedly, things might have been different had Martin Taylor's shot not cannoned back off a post when the game was goalless and that incident perfectly summed up Rovers' luck on the day.

But few could deny Boro deserved the spoils after turning in one of the brightest performances by a visiting team at Ewood this season.

Ironically, it was Rovers who made the livelier start in an astonishingly open first half.

Taylor swapped passes with Jansen and suddenly a gap opened up in the Boro defence but the marauding centre back dragged his shot wide on the edge of the box.

As the half progressed, though, it was the visitors who gradually gained the upper hand with Greening the man pulling the strings.

Boksic fired straight at Brad Friedel after a free kick from Carlos Marinelli had caused havoc in the area.

And the big American came to Rovers' rescue again minutes later when he tipped over another effort from Greening after the Boro man had burst through the centre unchecked.

But Rovers were left ruing their luck in the 23rd minute when Taylor instinctively redirected a shot from Henning Berg only to see it strike the base of the post with Mark Crossley well beaten.

That proved to be the turning point, as Boro then snatched the lead themselves with a further slice of good fortune in the opposite box right on half time.

Greening was the architect, prising open the home defence with a peach of a pass for Boksic to chase.

Craig Short looked odds on to clear the danger with a timely intervention but his attempted clearance struck the Croat and looped back over the stranded Friedel into the net.

That was a hammer blow but Dunn nearly conjured up an instant equaliser with a rasping 25-yarder which totally deceived Crossley only for the Boro keeper to somehow save it with his legs.

Souness made a tactical switch and a flurry of substitutions after the break in a bid to stir his team into life but it failed to have the desired effect.

Taylor and Jansen both headed wide from inviting openings and then a thunderous drive from the lively Ciccio Grabbi drew a stunning full-length save from Crossley, but sadly, it was a disappointing day at the office.

ROVERS... O MIDDLESBROUGH... 1

Boksic 45