SUBSTITUTES Roque Santa Cruz and Matt Derbyshire both hit the scoresheet as Rovers came from behind to stun Middlesbrough on the opening day of the Premier League season.

But while there was joy for Rovers at the Riverside, their day was blighted with the sad sight of Benni McCarthy being stretchered off in the second-half.

Boro led at half-time following Stewart Downing's free-kick on 30 minutes.

Chris Samba had impeded Yakubu 25 yards from goal and Downing did the rest, curling his free-kick around the Rovers wall and past Brad Friedel.

But Rovers stormed back in the second period and it was Santa Cruz who levelled, scoring just 60 seconds into his Blackburn debut.

David Bentley delivered a perfect cross from the right flank and Santa Cruz, on for the injured McCarthy, rose above Chris Riggott and Andrew Davies to power his header into the far corner.

And Rovers secured three points with Derbyshire flashing home a superb winner.

Similar to Santa Cruz, the 21-year-old had only been on the field a matter of moments when he picked up Morten Gamst Pedersen's pass before curling his 20-yard effort past Mark Schwarzer.

Davies looked to have grabbed Boro an injury-time equaliser, but Friedel kept out his close-range header in a frantic finish that included six minutes of stoppage.

Rovers: Friedel, Ooijer, Warnock, Samba, Nelsen, Savage, McCarthy (Santa Cruz 58), Bentley, Pedersen, Dunn (Mokoena 89), Roberts (Derbyshire 79).

Subs: Brown, Tugay.