ROQUE Santa Cruz marked his introduction to Premier League football with a sensational headed goal but he was upstaged by fellow substitute Matt Derbyshire as Rovers came from behind to win 2-1 at the Riverside.

After Stuart Downing had given the home side the lead after 31 minutes, the former Bayern Munich frontman powered Rovers back on level terms just two minutes after his introduction to English football.

His appearance just after the hour mark came at a cost however after Benni McCarthy was stretchered off after appearing to collapse.

But as good as Santa Cruz's header was, Matt Derbyshire's winner was a goal of the highest quality. The Blackburn-born striker had been on the pitch for less than thirty seconds when he took the ball to the left corner of the area and proceeded to curl a super-strike into the far corner of the net.

It wasn't the best of performances from Rovers as Middlesbrough pinned them back for long spells, including a nervy six minutes of additional time, but as referee Andre Marriner blew for the final whistle, Mark Hughes will have been delighted to start the new campaign with all three points.

Before the game the Rovers boss resisted the temptation to blood Roque Santa Cruz from the off as he went with the tried and tested strike partnership of Benni McCarthy and Jason Roberts.

David Dunn was preferred to Tugay in the centre of midfield, and he lined up alongside Robbie Savage who along with Andre Ooijer was making his long-awaited Premier League return after recovering from a broken leg.

Despite the hot and sunny conditions, the game started at a canter, both sides forcing early corner kicks. It was the home side who had the best chance of the early exchanges when from a Stephen Warnock error Yakubu fed the ball out to Tuncay, the Turkish forward man fed his fellow new signing Jeremie Aliadiere but he somehow couldn't connect with the ball when just six yards out. Robbie Savage just doing enough to put the former Arsenal man off at the vital moment.

The play switched right down the other end with Rovers putting the ball in the back of the net, only to see it ruled out. David Bentley switched the ball over to Pedersen but the Norwegian had just sneaked into an offside position before laying the ball on a plate for Benni McCarthy to dispatch. The South African's celebrations cut short by the linesman's flag on the far side.

But that was as good as it got for Rovers in an otherwise disappointing first half for the Lancashire club. Boosted by that let-off Middlesbrough went from strength to strength, keeping Rovers penned back for long periods.

Rovers had a couple of scared from Downing corner kicks but it was a free-kick from the England winger that saw the deadlock broken on 31 minutes. Christopher Samba was adjudged to have clipped the heels of Yakubu, and from the resulting 30 yard free-kick, Downing hit the ball through the wall and into the bottom corner of the goal much to the frustration of Brad Friedel who let his team-mates know he was far from impressed.

The visitors struggled to get a foothold into the game, time and time again long balls forward were dealt by the 'Boro defenders comfortably, whilst crosses from the flanks rarely found their intended target.

Manager Mark Hughes showed his frustration on the touchline, something he did or said getting the attention of the fourth official who called over match referee Andre Marriner. Hughes was warned about his conduct but was able to keep his place on the bench.

As the game entered time added on it was the home side's turn to have a goal ruled out, Yakubu spread the ball wide to Tuncay, but he was offside as he returned the ball to his strike partner to place in the back of the net.

Rovers started the second half where they left off in the first, on the back foot as Middlesbrough continued to dominate, but the game was held up for five minutes when Benni McCarthy collapsed on the pitch. A cross had come into the area from Bentley, McCarthy perhaps picking up a blow to the head as the ball came in. The South African was seen to by physio Dave Fevre but then appeared to collapse to the floor.

After a lengthy spell of treatment, McCarthy left the field of play on a stretcher whilst being given oxygen, to be replaced by Roque Santa Cruz.

The chants of "Santa Cruz is coming to town" had barely had time to die down when they were sung again with gusto. Less than three minutes after his introduction he was there to get on the end of David Bentley's right wing cross to rise above the 'Boro defenders to power the ball down into the bottom corner of the net.

A quite sensational introduction to Premier League football which was gleefully celebrated by the excellent travelling support.

The Rovers frontman then showed a delicate touch and a good turn of pace to leave his marker for dead but unselfishly he fed David Bentley's who saw his effort blocked.

But as good as Santa Cruz's strike was, Matt Derbyshire's was of the highest order. The 21 year-old had literally been on the pitch for 30 seconds when he took the ball to the far corner of the penalty area, there seemed little on for the under 21 star but that didn't deter him as he swept the ball high over a stranded Mark Schwarzer and into the far corner of the net.

With Rovers in the lead it allowed Hughes to play a more defensive 4-5-1 line-up with Derbyshire operating wide with Bentley pushed through the minute, Middlesbrough's only hopes came from long punts towards goal as they became more and more desperate.

Six minutes of added time were needed after the lengthy treatment to McCarthy, but Rovers somehow hung on to celebrate their first win on the opening day of the season for four years.

There was an unsavoury incident after the game when the two sides had a coming together after Morten Gamst Pedersen appeared to have been pushed to the ground, but the players soon calmed down and were able to celebrate the win in front of the Rovers fans.