South Africa striker Benni McCarthy proved a “super sub” for Blackburn Rovers when he scored with a header in the fourth minute of stoppage-time to secure a 1-1 draw against Middlesbrough at Ewood Park on Saturday.
The forward’s first Premier League goal in open play for almost a year saw Rovers draw level after Brazilian striker Afonso Alves had given the visitors, thrashed 5-0 by leaders Chelsea last time out, a 74th-minute lead.
“I am delighted. It would have been a travesty if we had come out of the game with nothing,” Rovers manager Paul Ince told Setanta Sports. “Benni is a goalscorer and it was a fantastic header. I’ve said ever since I came here that if we get a fit, hungry Benni McCarthy, he’d always be in my side.”
Middlesbrough, as well as the lateness of McCarthy’s leveler, had another reason for feeling hard done by in not coming away with all three points. Turkey international Tuncay Sanli’s dramatic overhead kick “goal” in the first half was ruled out for offside in what Ince said was a mistaken call by the assistant referee.
“It was definitely a goal,” the Blackburn boss said.
The result left Rovers in 10th place, two points ahead of Boro.
Both sides hit the woodwork in the first half at a rain-swept Ewood, with Middlesbrough’s French forward Jeremie Aliadiere volleying against the crossbar and Rovers’ Paraguay striker Roque Santa Cruz seeing a shot hit the post.
Middlesbrough manager Gareth Southgate, a former Boro and England teammate of Ince, was proud of the way his side had rallied after their humiliation at the hands of Chelsea.
“It’s always painful, but I think we’ve given a performance which restored some pride after last week,” Southgate said.
Just after the hour mark, Alves, cutting inside from the right, saw his shot brush past the far post. However, he was on target 16 minutes from time.
Gary O’Neil’s superbly flighted ball over the top split the home side’s defense. But Alves still had a man to beat, which he did stylishly, before shooting powerfully past Rovers keeper Paul Robinson.
Southgate made four changes to the team humiliated by Chelsea, with captain Emanuel Pogatetz back from suspension along with Tuncay, Alves and Didier Digard.
Ince also altered his line-up with striker Matt Derbyshire, Martin Olsson and Australian midfielder Vince Grella, making his home debut for Blackburn, all starting.
But it was McCarthy, a 65th minute replacement for Derbyshire, who had the final say when, having lost his marker, he glanced in a corner from Australia midfielder Brett Emerton.
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