Blackburn Rovers 1 Middlesbrough 2

As Championship leaders Blackburn Rovers' unbeaten start to the campaign came to an end courtesy of Jutkiewicz's first double for Boro, Ewood Park was the scene of further protests against Rovers boss Steve Kean.

It wasn't always destined to be like that. Had Blackburn made it four wins from four in front of their own fans then the demands for vilified Kean's departure may not have been quite as strong.

But, after everything that went wrong against Blackpool on Tuesday, this was a very different night for Middlesbrough. The reaction Kean's opposite number, Tony Mowbray, had been demanding from his players was there in abundance.

From the moment Jutkiewicz marked his return to the starting line-up with a clinical finish inside six minutes there always seemed no way back for Blackburn.

Rovers had their moments, but Middlesbrough defended strongly and counter-attacked with style. And on the hour Jutkiewicz's excellent header bought Mowbray's men the space they craved.

Not even a late flurry from Blackburn, which included a last minute goal from Grant Hanley, could prevent Middlesbrough grabbing a deserved first away win of the season.

After the disappointment of losing heavily 4-1 at Bloomfield Road three nights earlier it would have been easy for Mowbray to make a number of changes against Blackburn.

Rather than mix it up too much, though, he only left out striker Ishmael Miller, who didn't even make the bench, and Jutkiewicz only needed six minutes to vindicate the decision.

Where Mowbray resisted the temptation to make wholesale alterations to his team, he did opt to revert to a more orthodox system. Playing two banks of four and two up front instantly brought results.

And despite the Middlesbrough manager's wish for attractive football, the opening goal also arrived from a more straight-forward and old-fashioned route.

When Blackburn had possession deep in the Middlesbrough half, the visitors won the ball back and it found its way to Justin Hoyte .

The full-back, cutting inside, had little alternative than to punt a left-footed clearance long, which had the capability to cause Rovers problems.

Jutkiewicz leaped high around half way to flick in to the path of Marvin Emnes before continuing his run in to the Blackburn box. Emnes timed his through pass to perfection and his strike partner took a touch before firing low inside Paul Robinson's near post.

It was exactly the sort of boost Jutkiewicz required on his first start of the season, having worked his way back to action ahead of schedule following summer knee surgery.

After that, despite a shortness in match fitness, he had a spring in his step and he led the line well when he was asked to by his team-mates.

The encouraging signs further up the field were also replicated defensively. As well as another satisfying display from goalkeeper Jason Steele that was full of good decisions, the back four kept £8m man Jordan Rhodes and Portuguese Nuno Gomes quiet.

Middlesbrough could and should have been two up before the break. After Emnes, much more dangerous than he was the other night, set the move going by rolling inside to Grant Leadbitter.

Middlesbrough had the extra man and Leadbitter's little pass to the unmarked and overlapping Josh McEachran had just too much on it. The midfielder, on loan from Chelsea, was unable to bring his first touch across in time so he had to tee up Leadbitter instead and his shot was cleared. Jutkiewicz also threatened after a good run from Mustapha Carayol seconds later.

Had either of those gone in then it would have been the perfect first half for Middlesbrough. Instead plenty more work was required after the restart to cement the points.

Blackburn did have a greater verve about them after the restart but never did they look as creative as their Blackpool counterparts did earlier in the week.

And Middlesbrough still looked the most likely to score when they reached the final third. Only Martin Olsson, linked heavily with Sunderland in the summer, prevented a second when he cleared off the line when Carayol's bursting run and cross squirmed beneath Robinson.

Carayol's probing was a nuisance throughout and he was instrumental in the second. This time he floated a fantastic delivery to the back post, Jutkiewicz left Grant Hanley and directed a superb header high into Robinson's top right corner.

Frustrations among the home fans – who had witnessed Blackburn's finest start to a season in 18 years up until last night – suddenly strengthened and chants of 'Kean Out' rang loud and proud around Ewood.

Strangely that seemed to spark Blackburn in to life. The distractions in the stands actually led to Blackburn's best spell of the night, although Messrs Steele, Hoyte, Jonathan Woodgate, Bikey and George Friend stuck to their jobs competently and successfully.

After Mowbray had taken off Woodgate, Leadbitter and Carayol, Middlesbrough's shape did weaken. That led to Hanley's last minute glanced header from Fabio Nunes' cross.

But despite Blackburn's best efforts, including a late shout for a penalty that was waved away, Middlesbrough held strong to climb in to the top six.