Blackburn 1 Fulham 0: Local hero Matt Derbyshire rounded off a move oozing with South American flair to finally give Paul Ince his first home league win as Blackburn boss. Derbyshire pounced after Roque Santa Cruz flicked a superb through ball from Chilean debutant Carlos Villanueva into his path.

Derbyshire's timely strike ended 84 minutes of agony for Ince, whose side had toiled to little effect and looked set to end a strangely sunny Saturday afternoon still firmly rooted in the relegation zone.

Until Derbyshire's intervention Brett Emerton had had Rovers' best chance with a curling 39th-minute effort which beat Fulham keeper Mark Schwarzer but rebounded off the far post to safety.

It proved an inspired end to the game for Ince, who also saw Villanueva come close to crowning a promising start with his first goal, but it might have been different if Paul Robinson had not pulled off a fifth-minute wonder-save.

Coming into the game on the back of two consecutive wins, Fulham started well and when Simon Davies crossed Johnson looked certain to score only for Robinson to somehow palm his low shot over the bar.

Rovers responded by almost taking the lead themselves in the eighth minute, Jason Roberts flicking the ball on to Keith Andrews who lashed a right-foot shot into the side-netting.

A moment of magic from Emerton almost gave Rovers the lead in the 39th minute when he cut into the box from the left flank and flung in a curling effort which beat Schwarzer but clattered back off the far post.

Fulham created the first chance of the second half when Murphy's neat through ball sent Johnson scampering into the box, but Ryan Nelsen got back well to make a superb saving challenge.

Referee Probert was doing little to endear himself to the home fans, booking Chris Samba for hacking down Zamora but moments later allowing John Pantsil to escape after tripping Keith Treacy on the wing.

Rovers were struggling to find a way through the resolute Fulham rearguard with Santa Cruz forced out wide chasing an Emerton through ball and Roberts failing to reach a high cross from Danny Simpson.

Eager to finally earn his first home league win as Rovers boss, Ince responded in the 65th minute by withdrawing Roberts in favour of Premier League debutant Villanueva.

Derbyshire followed shortly afterwards in place of Treacy and capped his introduction by finishing off the fine move which finally gave Rovers their first home win of the season.

It might have got even better for the home side in the dying minutes with the impressive Villanueva unleashing a powerful left-foot drive which flashed just wide of Schwarzer's right-hand post.