WHEN Middlesbrough boss Steve McClaren called for his players to show 100 per cent until the end of the season last week he would not have expected his demands to fall on such deaf ears.

And against Blackburn at the Riverside on Saturday that is exactly what happened.

For once Boro's normally reliable defensive unit caved in and Blackburn did not need a second invitation to make the most of the opportunities which came their way.

Rovers, managed by Graeme Souness who made 174 appearances for the Teessiders during the '70s, became the first side to score three past the hosts' usually resolute backline at the Riverside since September 29th's 3-1 defeat to Southampton.

And Boro's defender Gareth Southgate admitted that Boro as a whole never really got going, much to the disappointment of McClaren who is hoping to guide his side to the club's highest ever Premiership finish.

"It was just a bad day at the office for the whole team," said Southgate.

"I thought we did OK for the first 20 minutes but we are a team that has to be flat out to get results and we weren't that. We got what we deserved."

Seventh-placed West Ham's 3-0 crushing of Sunderland has given the Upton Park outfit a five point gap over Boro. But McClaren's men are only two points adrift of Tottenham who occupy the place above.

And Southgate is convinced three victories from their last three games - against Ipswich, on Wednesday, Chelsea on Saturday and Leeds a week later - should be enough for a top eight finish.

"We're still in the same position as we were before Saturday and West Ham look like they are making the gap stronger," said Southgate. "We'll do well to catch them.

"But there's still a chance and we have to keep going while there is that chance until the end of the season."

Despite also going down in the FA Cup semi-final last week against Arsenal, yesterday's display has been more difficult to stomach for Southgate.

"We lost both games but the manner in which we got beat is a lot harder to take," said the 31-year-old. "Quite possibly the lads could've been a bit jaded after last Sunday but we have to deal with that and we have got a big game on Wednesday."

Blackburn inflicted only Boro's fourth Premiership defeat of 2002 and in doing so it was the first time the Ewood Park club have taken all the points from Teesside in the top-flight since March 1947.

McClaren had to pick his side without the top-scorer Alen Boksic, midfielder Jonathan Greening and defender Ugo Ehiogu - all ruled out with injuries.

But the Boro chief was able to recall Benito Carbone and Paul Ince, who both missed the semi-final - Cup-tied and suspended respectively.

The hosts started well but it was Blackburn who had a few good chances to open the scoring before they actually did on 33 minutes.

Winger Damien Duff picked up the ball near the centre-circle and his nimble footwork saw him advance, and after evading the attentions of four Boro defenders, the Republic of Ireland international crossed and Yordi tapped in.

Skipper Ince did his best to cancel out the visitors' lead seven minutes later but his long range effort flew narrowly wide.

McClaren introduced Michael Debeve and Carlos Marinelli for the second half and it could have been a masterstroke with immediate results. Marinelli's blast rebounded to Carbone outside the area and the Italian's powerful volley just missed the target.

Carbone, on loan from Bradford until the end of the season, was Boro's main threat and he was unlucky with another great effort minutes later.

The 30-year-old curled an exquisite free-kick around Blackburn's wall but United States goalkeeper Brad Friedel got across to save superbly in his top corner.

But on 74 minutes Souness' men extended their lead when Duff's corner was met by the diving head of Andy Cole.

With seven minutes to go a controversial decision to send Franck Queudrue off for bringing down the tricky David Dunn in the area, also resulted in a penalty being awarded and Dunn stepped up to convert.

Boro did manage a consolation in injury time when substitute Szilard Nemeth fired home.

* Tomorrow read the match report by Kimberley Rushforth - winner of our Make a Child Smile competition - who spent Saturday in the press box at the Riverside as part of her prize.

Read more about Middlesbrough here.