Dickov adds to misery on Teesside

And they wonder why attendances on Teesside are plummeting? Fewer than 15,000 turned up last night to watch a quarter-final of one of England's three principal competitions, yet the absentees probably felt vindicated as, with grim inevitability, a stalemate ensued until 30 seconds from the end, when another Blackburn Rovers attack ended with Paul Dickov sliding onto the end of a Shefi Kuqi cross-shot to score the only goal.

That sent Rovers into the semi-final and put the people here out of their misery. In injury time Middlesbrough substitute Massimo Maccarone struck the woodwork, but that was Boro's most serious chance and Middlesbrough could just about be held the more culpable for the way play developed.

A frustratingly inconsistent lot, they spent the first half backtracking and defending. The second half was an improvement, but it remained Blackburn Rovers doing the bulk of the attacking and, as in the first, Mark Schwarzer was the busier of the two goalkeepers.

Finally, and with some justice, Schwarzer was finally beaten in the 90th minute and Boro must now concentrate on the Uefa and FA Cups if they are to win that difficult second-ever trophy.

The game brought together the winners of the League Cup in 2004 and the winners of 2002. Those Cardiff days had been great for each club - especially for Middlesbrough as it was their first-ever trophy - and yet the atmosphere at kick-off was only slightly livelier than for a reserve team fixture.

Even though this was a quarter-final, Boro feared the worst in terms of attendance and failed to open large sections of the stadium. This was the third of four consecutive home games for Boro and at Christmas that is difficult financially for fans. The fourth is against Blackburn on Monday in the Premiership.

But there is undoubted fatigue on Teesside and the tiny following from Blackburn hardly helped the sense of non-occasion. Players must be deflated by the sight of thousands of empty seats and certainly Boro began as if that was the case.

Rovers at least made their attacking intent plain from kick-off. The visitors forced a corner in the first 10 seconds, Shefi Kuqi having a shot saved after five minutes and Robbie Savage then went close with a diving header in the 19th minute.

Middlesbrough offered no comparable threat. Defending deeply, passing sloppily, it was near the half-hour mark before the promising 18-year-old left-winger Adam Johnson hit a weak shot straight at Brad Friedel.

By the time Kuqi ran onto a headed flick from Morten Gamst Pedersen to direct an equally weak shot at Mark Schwarzer, Steve McClaren was stomping in the technical area at his side's inefficiencies.

There was a minor response from McClaren's players before half-time, Gareth Southgate poking an effort wide during a goalmouth scramble sparked by Yakubu's activity. The chance came from a free-kick awarded for a foul by Savage on Doriva but Savage then claimed the erratic Austrian Emmanuel Pogatetz spat in Savage's face. Television replays suggested Savage had a case.

MIDDLESBROUGH: Schwarzer, Bates (Parnaby 45), Riggott, Southgate, Pogatetz, Rochemback, Doriva, Boateng (Queudrue 83), Johnson (Maccarone 70), Hasselbaink, Yakubu. Subs Not Used: Jones, Ehiogu.

BLACKBURN: Friedel, Neill, Todd, Nelsen, Gray, Bentley (Reid 90), Savage, Tugay, Pedersen (Emerton 68), Kuqi, Dickov. Subs Not Used: Enckelman, Khizanishvili, Thompson. Booked: Savage, Pedersen, Tugay. Goals: Dickov 90.

Referee: A Wiley (Staffordshire)