FIVE years ago Middlesbrough reached the FA Cup final when many fans thought their name was on the prestigious trophy - but dejection followed with defeat to Chelsea.

This morning, after having time to reflect on events at the Riverside on Saturday, those same supporters must be waking up wondering whether this is finally Boro's year.

The Teesside faithful will need no reminding of the fact they have never won a major trophy in their 126-year existence. But with Lady Luck currently shining down on the boys in red who knows? Against Blackburn there was an unbelievable sending-off in Boro's favour when Lucas Neill was shown the red card for an apparent professional foul on Robbie Stockdale.

Then Ugo Ehiogu's first goal of the season sealed victory with just three minutes left after a free-kick was given for a debatable handball by Matt Jansen.

And remember both of those incidents follow on the heels of the hosts' late, late show against Manchester United in the previous round, when Andy Campbell and Noel Whelan secured progress with two goals minutes from time.

So Boro fans could be forgiven for thinking maybe, just maybe, it could be their name being engraved on the FA Cup.

Steve McClaren's men are in the quarter-finals, the furthest they have gone since that May day in 1997 when they lost 2-0 to the Blues. But Blackburn were in no doubt as to the reason why.

Rovers boss Graeme Souness, whose side are already in Sunday's Worthington Cup final, did not hold back after the clash when he blasted referee Graham Barber over the Neill sending off. And little wonder.

Neither side looked like breaking the deadlock in a very mundane tie until Mr Barber reached into his pocket.

Souness said: ''I thought the referee had a bad, bad game, and the highlight of his performance was the sending off.

''If you look on the television Stockdale is offside when he's played through, and when the players come together I don't think Lucas is the last man and the referee is actually waving play on.

''I used to think Barber was half decent, one of the better ones, until today. What will that statement get me? Fined? Banned? ''But what happens to him? He will be back refereeing a Premier League game next week.'' Former Boro star Craig Hignett, who played for Boro against Chelsea at Wembley, did not hold back in describing Mr Barber's display.

"I have just witnessed the worst refereeing performance I've ever seen," said Hignett, who spent nearly six years at Boro before being released by ex-manager Bryan Robson in 1998.

"Some of the decisions were unbelievable. To be honest I think referees have got worse since they turned pro.

"At first the referee was not even going to give a free-kick, but then the linesman flagged and he was swayed.

"That is what happens when you have a novice of a linesman.

"It was the same last week for us. They are taking the enjoyment out of my game."

McClaren sympathised with Souness and admitted he "would have felt exactly the same" as the former Scotland and Liverpool midfielder, who spent five years starring at Ayresome Park in the 1970s.

That incident actually lit up a game that was not an ideal advertisement for the FA Cup.

McClaren made a controversial decision prior to the match when he selected Mark Schwarzer between the posts for his first start since November 3.

The Aussie came in for unlucky Mark Crossley, who had kept nine clean sheets in 16 games, and, barring one shaky moment, he had hardly anything to do.

One Whelan lob from outside the penalty area on the stroke of half-time, which was cleared by Henning Berg, when Brad Friedel had gone walkabout was the only spark in a dour first half.

The introduction of Alen Boksic and Szilard Nemeth did give Boro a little more spark after the restart.

But it was not until McClaren switched to three central defenders, when Hartlepool-born David Murphy came on to make his Premiership debut, that Boro started to look the more dangerous.

And with Murphy's first touch he was able to cross for Paul Ince, whose shot was saved by Friedel.

A replay looked a certainty until the Neill sending off but even then Boro were not making the most of their few chances given to them.

Robbie Mustoe, making a club record 88th appearance in cup competitions for Boro, was guilty of firing over the bar from inside the six-yard box after some good work between Stockdale and Nemeth on 81 minutes.

But then Ehiogu sent the poor crowd of 20,921 fans home delighted with a superb downward header after Gareth Southgate's free-kick.

Ehiogu got above Blackburn defender Craig Short to score, and McClaren admitted he wants to see more goals from his towering centre-back.

"It's about time - Ugo does not get enough goals," he said. "To get in the England squad he needs to play like he did today."

McClaren revealed his disbelief at the poor turn out, saying: "It's a surprise to me. Since September the only team to beat us at home is Man United and we have won eight League games.

"That's double what we won last season. It's more about character than style."

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