Blackburn Rovers came from behind to stun Middlesbrough on Tony Mowbray’s return to the Ewood Park dugout.
Jeremy Sarmiento had netted the opener but Andri Gudjohnsen and Todd Cantwell both struck in a ruthless five-minute spell in the second half.
Mowbray’s men have taken four points from their first couple of league games, despite facing two of the early promotion favourites.
The head coach made one change from the draw at Wolves on the opening night, with Sam Morsy coming into the midfield for his full debut and Adam Forshaw dropping to the bench. Mathias Jorgensen also returned to the squad.
Boro made four changes from their late victory against Lincoln City, with Max Arfsten, Aidan Morris, Myles Peart-Harris and Morgan Whittaker replacing Neto Borges, Abdoulaye Kante, Leo Castledine and Kyle Joseph.
Ex-Rover Callum Brittain started for the visitors but there was no Ash Phillips in the squad following his move from Tottenham Hotspur.
The visitors started on the front foot and Sean McLoughlin had to make an important clearance from Callum Brittain’s header across goal.
Rovers’ first chance fell to Ryan Alebiosu after an incisive breakaway, which saw Gudjohnsen meet Ryoya Morishita’s pass with a clever flick, but Alebiosu’s shot was saved by the legs of Radek Vitek.
Boro took the lead after a spell of patient play around the box before Morgan Whittaker managed to play in Sarmiento, and he kept his cool to steer a cool finish past Balazs Toth into the bottom corner.
Dapo Afolayan picked out Morishita on the edge of the box with a clever cut back as Rovers searched for an immediate equaliser, but the Japanese midfielder failed to hit the target.
Morishita then came inches away from an equaliser after meeting Harry Pickering’s cross with a well-struck volley. Vitek was beaten low to his right but Luke Ayling managed to clear on the goalline.
Kristi Montgomery also had a chance to get Rovers back on level terms after winning the ball back high up the pitch and combining with Gudjohnsen, but his effort was pushed away by Vitek and Boro managed to clear.
Early in the second half, Will Lankshear wanted a penalty as he wrestled with Tom Atcheson in the box, but the young defender did well to deal with the danger.
The equaliser came moments later when Gudjohnsen got up highest from a corner and guided a superb header into the top corner.
Balazs Toth then made a couple of saves in quick succession to keep out headers from Myles Peart-Harris and Whittaker as Boro looked to regain their lead.
But it was Rovers who struck again. Vitek initially pushed away Cantwell’s cross but Mowbray’s men kept the chance alive and the skipper buried a diving header from Pickering’s delivery, completing a quickfire double that had Ewood Park rocking.
Atcheson made a brave block from Aidan Morris’ shot and Whittaker saw an effort deflected just over the bar as Boro battled to get back level.
There was no late heartbreak this time as Rovers stood firm through five minutes of stoppage time to secure the points.
Referee: Tom Reeves
Attendance: 18,918
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