Derbyshire strike in vain

The in-form striker pounced 18 minutes from time to cancel out Craig Conway’s first-half opener but just as the Millers looked on course for a point, Jordan Rhodes scored five minutes from time to make it 2-1.

A dull and scrappy first period was brought to life by the opening goal four minutes before the break when Conway cut in from the flank and flighted a lovely effort over goalkeeper Adam Collin and into the far corner of the net.

Lacklustre Rotherham’s only real opening of the half saw Conor Newton’s shot hit a hand, prompting penalty appeals.

They needed to improve in the second half and helped by substitutes Jack Hunt, Adam Hammill and Danny Ward, they did.

Hammill and Ward both worked home goalkeeper Jason Steele before Derbyshire equalised. Paul Green played a low ball into the penalty and the striker slid in at the near post to stab home.

There was a let-off when substitute Rudy Gestede’s header hit the inside of the post and bobbled across the goal face but moments later Rhodes was first to a header into the box to poke in the winner and sentence Steve Evans’ men to their first Championship defeat in four.

Blackburn: Steele, Lowe (Baptiste 20), Olsson, Hanley, Kilgallon, Cairney (Marshall 65), Evans, Spearing, Conway, Rhodes, Brown (Gestede 75)

Millers: Collin, Richardson, Fryers, Morgan, Arnason, Newton (Hammill 51), Smallwood, Green, Pringle (Hunt 51), Sammon (Ward 67), Derbyshire

Referee: Geoff Eltringham

Attendance: 13,403