Lukas cuts down the leaders

Striker Lukas Jutkiewicz fired Middlesbrough back into the top six with a superb brace on his full return to action as the visitors defeated leaders Blackburn Rovers 2-1 at Ewood Park.

The 23-year-old marksman was making his first start since undergoing medial ligament surgery over the summer and drove an angled finish past goalkeeper Paul Robinson after taking Marvin Emnes' pass on seven minutes.

On loan Chelsea prospect Josh McEachran was next to have an attempt as the visitors continued to be lively but it proved inaccurate, while his midfield colleague Grant Leadbitter drifted an inviting free-kick dangerously beyond the far post.

After newcomers Andre Bikey had successfully charged down from Rovers' recent £8m club-record signing Jordan Rhodes, Boro wasted another decent opening as McEachran delayed inside the area after fine work between Emnes, Kevin Thomson and Leadbitter. Mustapha Carayol then almost nearly picked out Emnes with a cross that fell marginally wide.

Blackburn made a couple of changes into the second-half but their opponents again went close when goalkeeper Robinson almost turned in another Carayol delivery until it was finally cleared away to safety.

But the former England keeper could do nothing just past the hour when Jutkiewicz powered in a header with Carayol once again the source after being found by Thomson.

That lead could have been reduced as Grant Hanley headed Danny Murphy's cross straight at Jason Steele before the young substitute finally nodded a late consolation with the assistance of Fabio Nunes.

Boro still had to survive desperate penalty claims against Justin Hoyte following a challenge on Rhodes before confirming a first league defeat of the season on their opponents.

Blackburn Rovers: Robinson, Orr, M, Olsson (G. Hanley 48), Givet, Dann, Ribeiro (Formica 46), Nunes, Murphy, Etuhu, Rhodes, Nuno Gomes

subs (unused): Kean, Lowe, Dunn, Pedersen, Rochina

Goals: G. Hanley (89)

Middlesbrough: Steele, Hoyte, Amougou, Woodgate (Hines 84), Friend, Leadbitter (Bailey 88), Thomson, McEachran, Emnes, Jutkiewicz, Carayol (Zemmama 88)

subs (unused): Leutwiler, Arca, Ledesma, L. Williams

Goals: Jutkiewicz (7, 61)

Ref: Pawson

Att: 13,405

Seconds Out! Vital Boxing is here!

Vital F1 Prediction League - Join now for Monaco