JOSEPH Job thought his career at Middlesbrough was all over earlier this year and he would never kick a ball for them again.

The tricky striker was farmed out on loan to French side Metz by manager Steve McClaren, who was hoping to rid the club of the player's wages.

And Job admitted, at the time, that he was none too pleased with life on Teesside either, saying: "If I never saw Middlesbrough again it wouldn't be too soon."

So on Saturday, when the forward came on as a substitute for last week's two-goal hero Massimo Maccarone with ten minutes to go, few could argue with the response he received from the Riverside crowd.

Job looked a lonely figure as he trooped onto the pitch with many of the 28,270 inside the ground greeting his appearance with a chorus of boos.

But ten minutes after coming on, with the highly-charged clash heading towards a goalless conclusion, the Cameroon internatonal latched on to a cross from fellow countryman Geremi to hand Boro their first three points of the season.

That was enough to persuade those unforgiving fans to suddenly go delirious as McClaren's men recorded their first win in seven - dating back to a 2-1 victory over Aston Villa on April 6.

And now the goalscorer is focused on trying to earn a regular place in the Boro Premiership starting XI, something he has only managed to achieve 11 times since Bryan Robson paid £3m to RC Lens for the player in the summer of 2000.

"Being away on loan last season didn't really help me," said the 24-year-old, who returned after five months with Metz in May. "I just wanted to have my chance to play here this season.

"I thought I did well in pre-season, kept my head down and kept going. It's been quite a turnaround at Middlesbrough with that goal, but that's football.

"When I first came, I was starting games and scoring goals. I didn't understand why I was treated like I was.

"I had a very hard time here but the important thing is that I feel good with the team now.

"At one point I felt very low because there was a lot of pressure on me. But when you are a pro you have to keep your head up and keep going.

"All I know is that today I scored the goal and I live for the moment, I can't think about the future. I'm just thinking about how happy I am now."

Job, who played for Cameroon in the World Cup, revealed how he feared he was a victim of the change in the Boro regime last summer, but now he feels McClaren is beginning to see what the player can do.

"My personal ambitions for this season are to stay in the team and be happy with the squad, I will take it from there," said Job, who also went close with a right-foot rocket on Saturday that just flew marginally wide of the upright.

"When I was not playing I wanted to understand why I wasn't playing. I was very frustrated but that's normal for somebody who doesn't play in the team.

"Now I'm very happy. I think now the manager knows me. It's always difficult when you are brought in by one manager and then he changes, it's much more difficult to get in the team.

"Steve McClaren has now known me for two years and that's important. I must have impressed him to get my chance again."

Job was not the only one to receive abuse from the Teesside faithful on Saturday, as McClaren's decision to drag off Maccarone was also one to come under much scrutiny.

However, the manager's tactics proved spot on as Boro snatched victory in the dying seconds.

And McClaren, able to recall left-back Franck Queudrue after a three-game suspension, said: "The game is now a 14 man game, it's not just about 11 men anymore.

"Massimo and Alen had worked hard up front and I just felt it wasn't going to be their day. I also had Tuesday's match with Man. United in my mind."

Blackburn boss Graeme Souness could not believe his well-organised side had lost the match. Rovers had been the better side in the opening period but they rarely troubled keeper Mark Schwarzer, who commanded his six-yard box well all afternoon.

And it was the visitors who had the best chance of the first half when Andy Cole beat the offside trap and fired over the bar after lively £1.5m signing David Thompson and David Dunn had neatly created an opening for the ex-Newcastle man.

After the break Boro changed to a 5-3-2 formation, with the introduction of Colin Cooper, and there was a lot of to-ing and froing from both sides but neither could break down resolute rearguards.

Geremi had a header saved by Brad Friedel and Alen Boksic hit the side netting for the hosts. At the other end Schwarzer saved well from Dunn's 25-yard free-kick.

The game - between two clubs who had not tasted defeat this season - looked to be heading for stalemate when Job side-footed home Geremi's cross, after full-back Nils-Eric Johansson, who looked nervous throughout, had mis-controlled a hopeful Gareth Southgate long ball.

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