SUPER-SUB Matt Derbyshire scored his first goal since October 4 to rescue a point for Blackburn Rovers.

Trailing to a first half header from Middlesbrough's David Wheater, Rovers appeared to be heading for a fifth home defeat of the season in the Premier League, until Derbyshire snatched an equaliser in the 75th minute thanks to a typically predatory finish.

In truth, that goal got Rovers off the hook as they rode their luck for large periods of the second half.

Boro had already missed at least three presentable chances before Derbyshire's equaliser, and then in the closing stages Jeremie Aliadiere had two golden opportunities to snatch a winner.

Boro took the lead in the 13th minute when Wheater stole a yard on Ryan Nelsen in the penalty area and rose to head home Stewart Downing's inswinging free kick.

In the second half, Aliadiere then shot wide after racing clear, and Tuncay inexplicably failed to convert an Aliadiere cross from less than six yards out.

Wheater also struck the crossbar with another close-range header as Boro called the shots.

However, Rovers boss Mark Hughes then threw on Derbyshire as part of a double substitution, and the striker came up trumps 10 minutes later, coolly converting his fifth goal of the season after a Jason Roberts shot deflected off a defender.

After that, Boro could still have snatched a victory but Downing's header was hacked off the line by Andre Ooijer.

And in the final minute, Aliadiere then headed another chance over the bar from only four yards out.

Rovers: Friedel, Ooijer, Samba, Nelsen, Warnock, Bentley, Reid, Dunn, Pedersen, Roberts, Santa Cruz. Subs: Emerton (for Pedersen, 65), Derbyshire (for Dunn, 65), Not used: McCarthy, Khizanishvili, Brown Middlesbrough: Schwarzer, Young, Huth, Wheater, Pogatetz, O'Neil, Boateng, Arca, Downing, Tuncay, Aliadiere. Subs: Rochemback (for Arca, 46) Not used: Lee, Riggott, Johnson, Turnbull Referee: Mr K Stroud Att: 21,687