Blackburn Rovers 1 Middlesbrough 0: Beaten Boro deserving of praise, insists Venus

Middlesbrough caretaker manager Mark Venus had nothing but praise for his players despite suffering his first defeat in charge.

Jason Lowe’s spectacular drive after 75 minutes secured three points for Blackburn after three games without tasting victory.

It was the 22-year-old’s first goal in his 96th game for the club and leaves Boro still searching for back-to-back wins this calendar year.

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“I think it was a hard-fought game with two teams competing well and it was a great goal to decide the game,” said Venus.

“I feel we didn’t lose that game through lack of effort or desire. They were all tired at the end and gave everything they had.”

Venus admitted that his side didn’t do enough to win the game and the result leaves Boro without a win on the road since their visit to Charlton in August.

He said: “Blackburn to be fair kept the ball a bit better and were a bit more progressive but we’re not a team at the top of the league. We’re trying to improve and need to improve in those aspects of the game, and we knew that before the game.

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“We came, got organised but probably didn’t make their goalkeeper make enough saves to be honest.”

Boro’s caretaker manager said he has not heard anything regarding the search for the club’s next permanent manager but is committed to continuing and giving whoever the new manager is a club in the best shape as possible.

He said: “I don’t know (about the manager search). I just carry on. I’m sure the chairman is doing what is best for the club and he needs to.

“We need to pick results up from the players and staff.

Rovers boss Gary Bowyer was quick to praise Lowe. He said: “Full credit to him. He works very, very hard, looking to improve his game all the time and adding goals to it was part of his area for improvement. Not a bad way to open your account is it?”

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Blackburn: Kean, Kane, Dann, Kilgallon (Marshall 77), Spurr (Morris 21), Cairney, Lowe, Williamson, King, Judge (Taylor 74), Rhodes. Unused substitutes: Eastwood, Songo’o, Marrow, Henley.

Middlesbrough: Steele, Rhys Williams, Woodgate, Ayala, Friend, Smallwood, Varga (Carayol 72), Adomah (Butterfield 85), Leadbitter, Emnes (Jutkiewicz 72), Kamara.Unused substitutes: Richardson, Hines, Gibson, Leutwiler.

Referee: C Boyeson (E Yorkshire).

Man of the match: Jason Lowe.