CHRIS Sutton's absences have been the crucial reason why Blackburn Rovers go into their penultimate game of the season against Middlesbrough tomorrow night still battling for Premiership survival.

And Rovers are prepared to leave a decision on the £5 million striker's fitness as late as possible.

For the facts of the matter vividly underline how much they miss him when - as has happened on numerous occasions this season - he is sidelined. Rovers' record from the games Sutton has started would have seen them knocking on the door of European qualification if expanded over a full season.

In stark contrast, their results when he has been absent represent relegation form.

Injury and illness have dogged the striker, seen by Rovers at the start of the campaign as an automatic in-house replacement for Alan Shearer.

But, as Rovers build up to the much-deferred game against Middlesbrough at Ewood, they must be prepared, if necessary, to learn to handle life without him.

Sutton is struggling to recover from the hamstring injury he suffered while claiming "assists" for the first three goals in the last home victory over Sheffield Wednesday. Manager Tony Parkes would desperately like to be able to recall him to the front line as they chase the single point they need to ensure that Middlesbrough, like Nottingham Forest and Coventry, cannot overhaul them in the relegation battle.

But both Sutton and Per Pedersen remain doubtful starters for the game.

Even though he has missed around a third of Rovers' matches, Sutton remains the leading scorer with a dozen at almost one every two games - an excellent record.

And if he had been fit all season, they would surely be safe by now.

"He always looks as though he can score goals and looked a real player against Sheffield Wednesday. But then he had to go off injured," said Parkes.

The player himself thought that he had taken enough precautions by being substituted at half time against Wednesday.

"I actually did it early in the game and couldn't do too much running after that," he said. "I just hung around the far post.

"But, when I came off at half time, we were hopeful it would clear up quickly. That hasn't been the case and we'll just have to wait and see what happens as far as these last two games are concerned."

Parkes doesn't anticipate any other injury worries for tomorrow's game when there is bound to be an extra-special atmosphere stemming from Boro's refusal to play in December.

"As far as we are concerned, we can't let it affect us. Everything that happened before has all been done and dusted," said Parkes.

"It wouldn't matter who we were playing, it's just a football match and we need a result. But I think the fans will be pumped up for it.

"We are in a good position, there's no other team in the bottom seven or eight with two home games left and this is a big one. Until we get the result we need, we can still go down but we have to remember we are one of the favourites to stay up."

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