Hignett on a high after Boro crash

It's different this year and we want to go as far as possible.'

The crowd, a disappointing 9,536, had little to cheer as the sides felt their way into the tie. But with Souness choosing only to rest his two first- choice strikers, Matt Jansen and Corrado Grabbi, and bringing in the experienced pair of Mark Hughes and Hignett, there could be few complaints that the customers were being short-changed.

Souness handed Swedish defender Nils-Eric Johansson an early chance to impress after his £2.7million move from Nuremberg.

McClaren also fielded the nucleus of his favoured starting line-up, with 17-year-old David Murphy and Slovakian striker Szilard Nemeth as the only notable non-regulars.

The Middlesbroughs brough defence needed all their experience as Blackburn pressed from the outset and Gareth Southgate dutifully defended his line when an Alan Mahon strike evaded the defensive wall.

Jon Greening and Co struggled to exert any form of influence in the opening quarter while Blackburn were always keen to push on.

After 31 minutes, Middlesbrough were punished for sitting too deeply when Hignett rose above Ugo Ehiogu to meet a deep Garry Flitcroft cross and power an unstoppable header in off the bar.

Only Nemeth looked capable of causing Blackburn any concern and, after wasting one clear chance, he roused McClaren's men from their slumbers when, following a neat one-two with Mark Wilson, the striker's skidding shot evaded John Filan.

From a side lacking confidence and purpose the scent of a Cup run injected new belief into Middlesbrough, and had Robbie Stockdale not side-footed wide when sloppy defending from Short gave the wing back a clear sight of goal, the visitors might have taken a lead into the interval.

The changing balance of power was underlined when Nemeth forced Filan to palm over and Middlesbrough retained that upper hand before Souness forced the pace by bringing on Grabbi, Jansen and Turkish midfielder Tugay. Until a frantic finale, when Mark Crossley pulled off a sensational triple save, Middlesbrough still looked the more likely winners, with Ehiogu dragging a shot agonisingly wide and, early in extra-time, Nemeth again testing the reflexes of Filan.

With seven minutes remaining, Short struck the killer blow and, after Jason Gavin provided one last scare for Middlesbrough with a header into the side netting, Blackburn again stressed their attacking strength with a succession of close chances.

Despite losing, McClaren remained upbeat. He said: 'It was level at 90 minutes so it was effectively a draw against a good side and at a difficult place, I cannot have too many complaints.'