Stead celebrates his goal

JONATHAN STEAD was the Rovers hero as his first half goal gave the young striker a debut to remember and Rovers their first win in 2004.

Stead's 39th minute strike was enough to give Rovers all three points in this vital match at the Riverside, and his energetic performance up front with fellow youngster Paul Gallagher left the Rovers fans drooling.

Before the game, Graeme Souness made three changes to the side that was beaten 3-2 by Chelsea six days ago at Ewood Park. Stead came in for his league debut for Rovers alongside fellow youngster Paul Gallagher. Andy Cole dropped to the bench with Dwight Yorke omitted from the sixteen.

At the back Craig Short made a welcome return, with Andy Todd moving into midfield at the expense of Tugay who had to settle for a substitutes place. There was no place in the sixteen for Vratislav Gresko, Michael Gray and Jonathon Douglas keeping their places on the left side.

The game was barely getting going when Middlesbrough wasted a golden opportunity to take an early lead, three minutes had gone when Italian Massimo Maccarone, out on the left, fed the ball through to Gaizka Mendieta, the Spanish international shot wide of Friedel's left hand post.

But as the first half wore on, Rovers gradually gained the upper hand on a sticky pitch that didn't lend itself to good flowing football.

When the goal came, it came from a long clearance from the boot of Craig Short, the ball flew diagonally up to the left where Paul Gallagher and Danny Mills gave chase. Gallagher beat the England defender to the ball, cut inside the penalty area, Mills got a tackle in but the ball rolled kindly into the path of Jonathan Stead and he hit a sweet right-foot shot into the opposite corner of the goal.

He made the goal look easy, it certainly wasn't.

Gallagher celebrates with Stead

This spurred Rovers on, and they ended the first half in the ascendancy.

Schwarzer had to be alert to cut out a dangerous cross from Emerton with Stead lurking, and then the former Huddersfield striker curled a left-foot shot inches wide of the far post.

Middlesbrough made two changes at the break, Maccarone and Parnaby were replaced by Downing and Job, but Rovers started the second half brightly.

A minute had gone in the second half when excellent persistence by Emerton resulted in the Aussie playing the ball onto Stead, the youngster, full of confidence, opted to shoot instead of passing, but his curling shot flashed past the far post.

At Ewood Park on Boxing Day, Juninho was the thorn in Rovers side, and he was almost again when he latched onto a back header by Job.

Stead and Gallagher worked the defensive pairing of Chris Riggott and Gareth Southgate all afternoon, good work by Stead forced a misplaced pass Southgate as he cleared straight to Gallagher, but the young Scot's shot was deflected for a corner.

From then on though, it was a backs to the wall for Rovers and they all played their part, but none more than goalkeeper Brad Friedel. The American would admit that he hasn't had the best of seasons for Rovers, but the two saves he made against Juninho and Southgate in the second half effectively won the game for Rovers.

If you thought the save against Frank Lampard's header last week was impressive, his 63rd minute save to deny Juninho was world class. The Brazilian control was excellent, his shot accurate, and he shook the hand of Friedel after Brad had cleared the ball over the bar.

Then Gareth Southgate found himself in unfamiliar surroundings, going on a long trek upfield, he somehow managed to get himself in front of Michael Gray at the back post, Southgate got his foot to the ball Brad made the block and Craig Short completed the clearance from on his own line.

Brad pulls off a fantastic save to deny Southgate

Thankfully, 'Boro never got closer than that, and whilst the last fifteen minutes of the game were certinaly nervy for the Rovers contingent, the home side were denied any further clear-cut chances by the eleven men in blue and white shirts.

Craig Short celebrates the hard fought victory

The win moves Rovers up to 14th place in the league, and perhaps more importantly, six points away from the relegation zone.

MIDDLESBROUGH: Schwarzer, Mills, Southgate, Riggott, Queudrue, Mendieta (Nemeth 66), Parnaby (Downing 45), Doriva, Zenden, Juninho Paulista, Maccarone (Job 45).
Subs Not Used: Jones, Cooper.

ROVERS: Friedel, Babbel, Todd, Short, Gray, Emerton, Douglas, Flitcroft, Neill, Stead (Tugay 85), Gallagher (Jansen 65).
Subs Not Used: Enckelman, Cole, Johansson.

Booked: Douglas.

Attendance: 28,307.

Referee: R Styles (Hampshire).

Don't forget, see Monday's Rovers World for full match reaction from the Riverside.