Derby lived to fight another day in the FA Cup after they survived a strong penalty appeal in a goalless tie at Ewood Park.

Blackburn felt they should have had a spot-kick in the second half when Bjorn Bragstad challenged Alan Mahon.

Bragstad did not appear to make contact with the ball as he tackled the Irishman, but nothing was given and play went on.

That was a fortunate escape for Derby, and for virtually all of this fourth round tie Rovers had had them on the ropes.

But Graeme Souness' side could not find the knockout punch they needed, and Derby survived to do battle again in 10 days' time at Pride Park.

Before the game the omens suggested an upset might be on the cards as Blackburn, riding high in the First Division with just one defeat in their last 18 league games, faced a Derby side who are hovering just above the Premiership relegation zone.

Derby's cause was not helped either by the loss of Craig Burley, Chris Riggott, Taribo West, Darryl Powell and Deon Burton through suspension and international call-ups.

Rams boss Jim Smith, who ironically managed Rovers when these sides when Derby won 3-1 in the two clubs' last FA Cup meeting 24 years ago, could have done with that quintet.

The Rams never got going, and Blackburn looked more like a Premiership side.

Rovers had won their last five home games and they began intent on stretching the run.

They pinned Derby back into their own half, and Marcus Bent had a shot deflected for a corner before he headed wide.

Derby managed to emerge over the halfway line, and Malcolm Christie should have done better when he shot wide from outside the box before Horacio Carbonari fired a free-kick straight at Blackburn goalkeeper Brad Friedel.

The game spluttered along, and Matt Jansen squandered a decent opening to bring the tie to life.

Damien Duff found him with a cross unmarked in a great position, but instead of trying to hit the target he headed the ball back across goal.

Play was bogged down in midfield, and neither side could retain possession long enough to create anything.

Duff briefly brought the home fans to life when he intercepted the ball and played Jansen through on the left. This time Jansen chose the right option only for his shot to be deflected for a corner.

Carbonari almost let Bent in when he slipped on the edge of his own penalty area - but the Rams defender recovered and won the ball back.

Craig Short was doing well against his old club on his return following six weeks out with hamstring trouble and he came close to giving Blackburn the lead.

Jansen played the ball out to Jason McAteer on the right. Short could not make a clean connection with his cross, and Mart Poom saved his downward header.

Rovers tried to up the tempo in the second half, and Derby defender Youl Mawene cut out Jansen's dangerous cross which was intended for Bent.

Derby failed to clear the resultant corner, and Bent knocked the ball back in to Duff on the left from where he volleyed just wide.

Blackburn continued to make the running and they threaded together a nice move which culminated in a shot from David Dunn, which Poom held at his near post.

Souness was anxious to settle the tie at Ewood and on the hour mark he brought on Craig Hignett and Marc Keller.

Keller had been on the pitch for only a minute when he was cut down by Mawene, who was rightly booked.

Still the game lacked any real flow, and with just under a quarter of the match remaining Souness played his final card when he replaced Bent with Nathan Blake.

Blake was immediately into the action and he turned and crossed for Hignett to head just over.

Keller then forced a good save from Poom, who dived to his right to touch away his shot.

Then came the controversial penalty incident 10 minutes from time when Mahon went down in the box after playing a one-two with Blake.

Teams

Blackburn Friedel, Curtis, McAteer (Hignett 60), Short, Taylor, Mahon, Duff, Dunn, Flitcroft (Keller 60), Bent (Blake 69), Jansen.

Subs Not Used: Broomes, Filan.

Derby Poom, Mawene, Carbonari, Bragstad, Martin, Higginbotham, Eranio (Boertien 26), O'Neil, Murray, Christie, Delap.

Subs Not Used: Valakari, Bolder, Hunt, Oakes.

Booked: O'Neil, Mawene, Martin.

Att: 18,858

Ref: R Pearson (Peterlee).