Middlesbrough again savoured the sweet taste of a Premiership victory to revive their European ambitions and increase the growing relegation anxiety at Blackburn.

Left-back Franck Queudrue's first-half strike was enough to give Boro their first top-flight win of 2005 after taking just two points from the preceding five matches.

Given the injury-ravaged nature of boss Steve McClaren's squad, he was again forced to turn to the youngsters, using five players aged 21 and under over the 90 minutes.

At a time when McClaren needed them most, they did not let him down, and while he can again look towards potentially claiming a place in the UEFA Cup for the second successive season, these are now worrying times for Hughes and Blackburn.

The revival instigated upon his appointment has ground to a halt on the back of three successive defeats - all by a 1-0 scoreline - for the first time this season, and since April last year.

While Blackburn have tightened up defensively under Hughes, the goals have dried up and they now less-than-proudly boast the Premiership's worst scoring record.

Boro, though, deserved the three points on their first-half showing alone as they made their intentions clear inside the opening five minutes.

During those early exchanges Boudewijn Zenden, making his 100th Premiership appearance, stung the fingers of goalkeeper Brad Friedel with a rasping 25-yard drive.

Soon after, Robbie Savage was scythed to the ground by Ray Parlour, earning a booking which was followed by a second and subsequent red in the dying moments of the game when he stupidly kicked the ball away.

But it served as a card marker and Rovers were rattled, with Savage continuing to come in for some harsh treatment as Joseph-Desire Job and Zenden also cut down the Wales international, but Riley kept his cards in his pocket much to the annoyance of Hughes.

However, it allowed Boro to dominate the midfield and underpin their push to end their miserable run, with chances proceeding to arrive thick and fast.

Malcolm Christie, making his first home appearance due to the broken leg injuries that restricted his appearances to just one substitute outing in 15 months prior to his return in midweek, thought he had grabbed the opener in the 10th minute.

Although heading home a Job cross after Rovers skipper Andy Todd had been dispossessed on the edge of the area, he was correctly adjudged offside.

Youngsters Stewart Downing - expected to be named in the England squad later today to face Holland in a friendly international next week - and James Morrison then took centre stage.

Downing first forced Friedel into an uncomfortable low save from 20 yards in completing a sweeping six-man move, before Morrison greedily went for glory after being fed by Zenden soon after, only to fire handsomely wide.

Downing then clipped the outside of Friedel's right-hand post as he again tortured his right-back marker in Lucas Neill, who was turned inside out by a pass from the 20-year-old into Queudrue in the 35th minute, setting up the winner.

The Frenchman then cut inside Aaron Mokoena and curled home his fourth goal of the season across Friedel, who should have been picking the ball out of his net again four minutes before the break.

But Morrison, again blinkered, saw a shot blocked after being put through by Job, with Christie all alone to his left and 12 yards from goal, with the striker sinking to his knees in despair at the wasted opportunity.

Job was then thwarted by Ryan Nelsen soon after just as he was primed to shoot, with the half-time whistle unable to come quick for Hughes' ragged Rovers.

The interval ensured Boro lost their attacking edge, and after left-back Dominic Matteo was booked for a foul on Zenden, the visitors then finally conjured their first chances of the game.

They all fell the way of Dickov, although the first two were not much to write home about as he skied a half volley over the bar and before an acutely-angled shot drifted through the penalty area.

Goalkeeper Mark Schwarzer was able to look on both times, although he eventually came into the fray in the 54th minute in tipping over the bar a header from the Scotland striker after rising to meet a right-wing cross from Brett Emerton.

Dickov, though, was incensed at Riley 12 minutes from time when he felt he was pushed over in the area by Michael Reiziger, but there was no spot kick, and at the whistle the Leeds official was confronted in the centre circle by the angry Rovers forward.

Middlesbrough should have sealed the win on the counter late on as Rovers pushed for the equaliser, but Zenden headed narrowly over and Friedel superbly denied another of Boro's young stars in Matthew Bates.

That was swiftly followed by Parlour's dismissal, giving McClaren another headache for next week's trip to Bolton as the veteran and fellow midfielder Zenden are both suspended.

Parlour created a Premiership record having been booked in five successive league matches - his second yellow against Rovers making it six yellows in five games.

Teams:

Middlesbrough: Schwarzer, Parnaby, Southgate, Reiziger, Queudrue, Morrison (Bates 90), Parlour, Zenden, Downing, Job (Doriva 73), Christie (Graham 69).

Subs Not Used: Nash, McMahon.

Sent Off: Parlour (89).

Booked: Parlour.

Goals: Queudrue 35.

Blackburn: Friedel, Neill, Nelsen, Todd, Matteo, Emerton, Savage, Mokoena (Johnson 60), Thompson (Reid 78), Pedersen, Dickov.

Subs Not Used: Flitcroft, Enckelman, Johansson.

Booked: Mokoena, Matteo.

Att: 30,564

Ref: M Riley (W Yorkshire).