THE excited faces dotted about the Riverside press room told the full story of the unfolding drama.

With the final Carling Cup semi-final spot up for grabs in a tense penalty shoot-out, it's no wonder the closing chapter of the thrilling Doncaster v Arsenal story had everyone transfixed to the TV screen.

But one face remained motionless - and emotionless - throughout the saga.

There was no joining in the howls of anguish as the League One heroes squandered spot kick after spot kick. No grins of delight as Alexander Hleb kept the Doncaster dream alive by missing Arsenal's fourth penalty.

It was the face of Mark Hughes, all the time displaying the steely determination and single mindedness that's carried him and his players to a second final four place in the space of this calendar year.

The Blackburn Rovers manager joined the press pack to view the climax of the second of the night's quarter-finals.

And given the good job he had made of the first one, with Paul Dickov grabbing a deserved last gasp winner to see off Middlesbrough, he was entitled to relax and enjoy it without becoming too emotionally involved.

There's little doubt that Doncaster, despite how well they've played in this year's competition, would have been a welcome name to be juggling about in the semi-final draw bag alongside Blackburn.

But as the chances of this happening gradually evaporated, Hughes' demeanour remained the same. It wouldn't have taken a body language expert to deduct that his general attitude was 'well, whoever wins, we'll take them.'

Such a mindset will serve Hughes well when he resumes his quest to add a managerial triumph to his three League Cup winners' medals he battled for as a player.

While Arsenal aren't the team Rovers will be facing over two legs, the belief that they can see off all comers could come in handy as Manchester United, the club Hughes kicked off his cup-winning hat-trick with in 1992, were the team they were paired with.

This is a side Rovers haven't lost to in their previous four Premiership meetings, so two legs should be no problem.

Of course, the reality will be very different, but there's just something about this current Carling Cup run that suggests Hughes hasn't finished his love affair with the Millennium Stadium just yet.

Last night's victory was another last gasp effort which, although not of the same epic proportions as the previous round's at Charlton, says a lot about the respect Hughes has for this competition.

It would have been so easy for the players to accept extra time as the inevitable outcome and, given the fitness edge Rovers tend to have on their opponents these days, try to force the issue from there.

But not winning it in 90 minutes would have been very frustrating for a side who not only created a Christmas hamper-full of chances, but also dominated enough to send Boro boss Steve McLaren into a steaming rage with his players afterwards.

After all, pre-match billing suggested Rovers were up against a team that wanted to win the Carling Cup as much as they did.

Middlesbrough hold a special affection for the trophy, and who can blame them given it's the only one they've ever won and had to wait until 2004 for it?

The walls of the media room are lined with pictures of Boro's stars from that victory over Bolton, a sight that leaves one shuddering to think of what was there before last year.

Yes, the Carling Cup definitely means a lot in these parts.

So with Teesside wetting itself in anticipation of another good run in the competition, Rovers could have expected to be out under a lot more pressure.

Boro had sporadic chances but it was Blackburn who had the more sustained periods of pressing throughout the game.

Early chances for Paul Dickov and Robbie Savage, who was unfortunate not be rewarded for his performance by opening his account for the club, were a good indication of what was to come.

At this stage the Boro supporters were at their most vocal, which isn't saying much because a) there weren't many of them and b) it was howls of displeasure at how badly their boys were playing.

But it had the desired effect as Yakubu burst through the middle on a run that led to Adam Johnson finally testing Brad Friedel, who was soon springing from his area to head the ball away as Yakubu hunted down a bouncing ball.

But Mark Schwarzer then saved the best chance of the half from Shefki Kuqi while a stab wide from Gareth Southgate was the only let-up as Rovers relentlessly searched for an opening goal.

Savage had a goal disallowed after a push by Dickov on Southgate then a piece of excellent chest control and a half volley by Kuqi skimmed just wide of the far post.

Despite a slight improvement from Middlesbrough at the start of the second half, they were soon forced into some frantic defending to keep the game goalless as Morten Gamst Pedersen and Dickov both had shots blocked in the six-yard box.

Ryan Nelsen somehow headed wide Pedersen's free kick when he was completely unmarked at the back post and three minutes from time the Kiwi nodded a corner just wide.

But Dickov, given the cold he was suffering from, was relieved to avoid struggling through extra time as he followed in Kuqi's scuffed shot and poked home the winner.

Time was up, but there was still an extra four minutes added on for Boro to carve out their best opening as Jimmy Floyd Hasselbaink's chip found Massimo Maccarone at the far post.

Fortunately for Rovers, he could only hit the base of it.