Blackburn Rovers 2 Middlesbrough 1 MIDDLESBROUGH'S miserable away form continued at Ewood Park on Saturday with their seventh defeat on their travels this season.

The game was allowed to go ahead by referee Martin Atkinson despite torrential rain making free-flowing football a rarity, with the ball regularly getting caught in the surface water.

Rovers adapted better to the condition in the first half and went ahead in the ninth minute - Shabani Nonda impressively volleying home from 12 yards after a great ball from Lucas Neill.

Boro opted for a more direct approach after the break and the move paid dividends on the hour mark when Neill stupidly wrestled Emanuel Pogatetz to the ground in the box and Yakubu converted from the penalty spot.

Gareth Southgate's side looked the more likely to grab a winner but it was Rovers who took all three points when Benni McCarthy took advantage of some slack marking with 15 minutes remaining.

His headed goal means Boro are still waiting for their first win of the season away from the Riverside with more than half the league campaign completed.