THE wait goes on for Middlesbrough. This 1-0 defeat at Blackburn Rovers means it is now seven games since Steve McClaren's men last claimed as much as a point on their travels.

And if it was Boro's New Year resolution to score more goals away from home, they failed at the first attempt yesterday.

Remember Tottenham Hotspur on September 28? A crushing 3-0 victory at White Hart Lane that lifted the Teessiders up into third place in the top-flight.

For the Boro fans who travel to home and away games that was the last time they witnessed a goal, never mind a win, from the club they support.

To make matters worse, the defeat at Ewood Park condemned Boro to life in the bottom half of the table - something everyone thought was a thing of the past at the Riverside.

It is now over 11 hours since Boro grabbed the third goal at Spurs and, quite frankly, they never looked like ending that dismal run in front of goal in Lancashire - against Graeme Souness' side who have lost just four of their last 11 matches.

Boro may have the most miserly defence in the Premiership away from home, but the only way they will make a return to the top ten is if Alen Boksic, Massimo Maccarone and Szilard Nemeth can find their feet in front of goal.

Maccarone's 'play me or I'm off' demand to McClaren had the desired effect, as he found himself starting up front for the first time in three games. But he struggled to trouble Rovers' in-form keeper Brad Friedel or the four defenders in front of him.

The former Empoli man was joined in the starting line-up by partner for the day Boksic.

Boksic had been rested for the trip to Aston Villa on Saturday, but McClaren clearly felt the Croatian was ready to make a quick return to first team action.

But the 32-year-old's inclusion came at the expense of top-scorer Nemeth, who was named among the substitutes. Nemeth was joined on the bench by Luke Wilkshire, who struggled to make an impact at Villa Park.

Rovers, meanwhile, handed young midfielder Neil Danns his first Premiership start. He replaced £20m-rated winger Damien Duff, who picked up an injury against West Ham last weekend.

Within a minute Boro made their attacking intentions clear. Joseph-Desire Job's darting run led to a foul by former Darlington defender Martin Taylor.

From the resulting free-kick, Franck Queudrue's effort curled just wide of the upright. But just seconds later, McClaren's plans were thrown into disarray when £8m centre-back Ugo Ehiogu hobbled off following a clash with Friedel.

After a couple of minutes of examination, Ehiogu walked gingerly down the tunnel and he had to be replaced by Tony Vidmar.

It did not appear to ruffle Boro too much, though, and Job's low shot had to be well saved after some good work on the right by Stuart Parnaby.

Blackburn, who were unfortunate to go away pointless when the two sides met in August, were struggling to find the fluent football that entertained the Riverside.

Former Manchester United pair Andy Cole and Dwight Yorke saw plenty of the ball, but in the wrong areas, forcing the hosts to shoot from distance.

At the other end Boro should have taken the lead eight minutes before half-time, after a flowing move involving Geremi, Parnaby and Boksic down the right.

Eventually Boksic's dangerous low cross towards the six-yard area should have been diverted beyond Friedel - instead Maccarone, marshalled by Taylor, completely missed the ball, which rolled to safety.

Blackburn nearly made their opponents pay three minutes later. Lively Cole - who had scored six goals in his previous seven matches - cut inside on the left and his right-foot shot had to be well saved by Mark Schwarzer.

The home side - managed by former Boro midfielder Graeme Souness - came out for the second half with a lot more purpose.

And it seemed only a matter of time before Blackburn opened the scoring. Lucas Neill's low shot from outside the area was deflected just the wrong side of the upright by the boot of Gareth Southgate.

But, after that narrow escape, the now vibrant Ewood Park crowd did not need to wait long for the game's first goal.

Maccarone wasted possession in the middle of the pitch and Blackburn broke.

Cole's dummy, after substitute Keith Gillespie's cross, wrong-footed the Boro backline. Yorke reacted first to the loose ball and he chested down before shooting past Schwarzer on 57 minutes.

Then, with the Blackburn fans still celebrating, young full-back James McElveley struck a sweet left-foot shot from 22 yards, only to see the ball hit the crossbar.

Ex-Newcastle United hot-shot Cole showed his class when Schwarzer had to be alert to turn round a curling shot from the striker, as Blackburn looked like cruising to victory.

And had it not been for Schwarzer, who saved a Tugay free-kick in the dying stages, the scoreline would have been much worse.

Result: Blackburn Rovers 1 Middlesbrough 0.

Read more about Middlesbrough here.