FULL-TIME REPORT & VIDEO HIGHLIGHTS: Blackburn Rovers 2 Middlesbrough 1

Paul Lambert’s superb side went in front in the 47th minute through the recalled Hope Akpan and doubled their advantage seven minutes from the end of normal time through Graham.

It was the first opportunity the man-of-the-match had enjoyed all night against the club where he started his career – and he took it in style.

In contrast it was an evening to forget for the returning Rhodes and Middlesbrough, who set-up a frantic finish through Adam Forshaw.

But Rovers played out the rest of added time to move up to 16th with a third straight home league win for the first time since November 2014.

Lambert made three changes to the team that started Saturday’s vital victory over MK Dons with Tony Watt, Matt Grimes and Akpan replacing Chris Brown, Elliott Bennett and the injured Corry Evans.

But it was the Boro starting line-up that caught the eye with Rhodes handed an swift Rovers return.

Rhodes scored 85 goals in 169 appearances at Ewood before making a £9m move to the Riverside Stadium exactly a month ago.

And the striker should have netted his second goal in the red of Middlesbrough after just eight minutes following an uncharacteristic error from his Scotland international team-mate.

Rovers captain Grant Hanley’s under-hit back pass allowed Rhodes a clear run at goal but Jason Steele reacted smartly and decisively to take the ball off his feet.

Steele, facing the club where he made 146 appearances, had already denied Albert Adomah.

Adomah was Boro’s biggest dangerman in a first half high on effort but low on clear-cut chances with the winger later leaving Akpan for dead and sending a swerving shot a few yards wide.

But Rovers, with Graham leading the line superbly, more than held their own in the opening period.

Deploying the midfield diamond formation that had proved effective in last month’s 1-1 draw between the sides, their best spell came around the half-hour mark.

Centre-back Dael Fry twice nearly turned crosses from Watt and Tommy Spurr into his own net, Watt then volleyed over, before Darragh Lenihan tested Dimi Konstantopoulos from distance.

Sean Dyche was an interested observer ahead of Saturday’s East Lancashire derby at Turf Moor.

And the Burnley boss, whose team stayed top as a result of Rovers’ win, would no doubt have been impressed with how the hosts opened the scoring two minutes after the restart.

Home debutant Grimes whipped over a wonderful cross from the left to the back post where Akpan gave it the finish it deserved, directing the ball brilliantly back across Konstantopoulos.

Middlesbrough, backed by 3,759 travelling supporters, responded strongly with Steele saving twice in succession from Rhodes, who then saw a goal-bound effort bravely blocked by Shane Duffy.

Boro boss Aitor Karanka looked to his talented bench and brought on Adam Clayton and Gaston Ramirez.

But it was David Nugent who went closest to equalising when he found space in the area and saw a side-footer deflect inches wide.

By that Lambert had introduced Simeon Jackson for Watt who, like every player in the blue and white halves, worked his socks off.

But it did little to stem the tide of growing Middlesbrough pressure with Duffy keeping a cool head to turn Ramirez’s dangerous free kick over his own bar.  

Boro’s best openings, however, kept falling to Rhodes, who saw a sharp strike saved by the excellent Steele on his line.

And Rhodes was shown how to do it by his opposite number in the 83rd minute.

Steele pumped a goal kick downfield and Jackson flicked the ball over the last man to Graham who showed a deft touch to nudge it past the on-rushing Konstantopoulos and into the net.

‘Danny Graham, he scores when he wants’, rung around a jubilant Ewood, but the mood changed in the first of five minutes of injury-time when Forshaw steered the ball past Steele.

But Rovers hung on to take what they deserved.

Rovers: Steele, Marshall, Duffy, Hanley, Spurr, Lenihan, Grimes (Conway 81), Akpan, Gomez (Bennett 78), Watt (Jackson 65), Graham. Subs not used: Raya, Henley, Brown, Ward.

Booked: Spurr, Lenihan.

Goals: Akpan 47, Graham 83.

Middlesbrough: Dimi, De Laet, Fry, Gibson, Friend, Adomah, Leadbitter (Clayton 53), Forshaw, Downing (Ramirez 63), Nugent (Stuani 86), Rhodes. Subs not used: Meijas, De Pena, Nsue, Kalas.

Booked: Stuani.

Goal: Forshaw 90.

Referee: Andrew Madley.

Attendance: 16,601 (3,759 away).