ROQUE Santa Cruz twice went close to giving Rovers a half time lead in an entertaining first 45 minutes at Ewood Park.

The Paraguayan hit a post and had a close range header tipped over as Paul Ince's men played some flowing football in heavy rain.

Gareth Southgate's Middlesbrough could have taken the lead themselves though, with Tuncay unfairly flagged offside after volleying home on 24 minutes.

Rovers started quickly with Carlos Villanueva, playing just behind Santa Cruz, shooting just wide from 25 yards after just three minutes.

The visitors responded though and should have taken the lead when Jeremie Aliadiere sprung the offside trap before volleying against the bar from eight yards.

Brett Emerton then raced clear onto Stephen Warnock's pass before shooting against the legs of Ross Turnbull from close range on 13, while Matt Derbyshire scuffed a shot wide two minutes later.

Santa Cruz struck a post on 16, after a sublime through ball by Warnock, before Tuncay had a close-range acrobatic effort ruled out for offside, although replays showed he was on.

Santa Cruz again went close on 29 minutes, his header tipped over by Turnbull from close range after Villanueva's left wing corner.