Deon Burton took the wheels off the Brian Kidd bandwagon six minutes from time
at Pride Park.
The Blackburn manager had seen his side create a seven-match unbeaten run
since his appointment last month and looked certain to continue that as Rovers
held firm in the wake of tremendous Rams' pressure.
But the Jamaican international popped up in the 84th minute to head home Dean
Sturridge's knockdown from Tony Dorigo's cross to pop the Rovers' balloon.
Indeed Burton, who had complained this week about being left out of the side
was only playing as a replacement for suspended Paulo Wanchope.
And he responded to manager Jim Smith's statement that this "could be his
chance" with the ideal answer.
It was no more than the home side deserved after dominating the game with
Sturridge, former Rover Lars Bohinen and Francesco Baiano all spurning
first-half chances.
But Nathan Blake could have sent the points back to Ewood Park nine minutes
from time but he put a clear header wide when Ashley Ward's clever cross had
given the former Bolton man space just four yards out.
The first-half had been dominated by both the home side and the running feud
between McKinlay and Baiano.
As early as the eighth minute, the two players were at each other's throats
when the Scottish international felt his Italian counterpart had left his foot
in a tackle and both earned a yellow card.
Former Rover Bohinen helped break up the squabble before almost breaking the
deadlock but a tremendous save by John Filan denied the Norwegian a
celebration.
Nathan Blake became the first man to aim towards Derby's goal and almost
bicycle-kicked Rovers into the lead. But the control he showed to stabilise
himself on the six-yard area from Jason Wilcox's corner was not matched by the
strike which flew over.
But with most fight fans concentrating on the Mike Tyson bout in Las Vegas
tonight, McKinlay continued his own brawl with Baiano.
A late McKinlay challenge in the 16th minute was greeted with a warning from
match official Dermot Gallagher and a minute later, the midfielder aimed a
powerful strike at the Italian.
But the other 20 players on the field continued with the game and Australian
stopper Filan again showed why Tim Flowers cannot get back into the side after
injury when he saved well from Sturridge.
Baiano himself missed a golden chance in the 26th minute when he volleyed a
Sturridge cross wide from just six yards as Blackburn reeled under the Rams'
pressure.
Three minutes later Callum Davidson had to be alert to deny Burton steaming on
to Baiano's clever through ball on the edge of the area.
In the 33rd minute, Stephane Henchoz became the visitors' hero when he managed
to get in the way of a Sturridge strike and deflect the ball wide.
Four minutes later, Bohinen should have taken his time with a strike from 20
yards but his shot flew high and wide when a little more care would have seen
him with a clearer strike.
With Derby's football flowing at the front, there was little opportunity for
Wilcox and Keith Gillespie to get behind the Rams' defence.
But in the final five minutes, Rovers gave some encouragement to their
boisterous travelling fans when Ashley Ward forced a great fingertip save from
Mart Poom from a Tim Sherwood cross.
But the second-half failed to fire the home crowd's imagination and passion as
Blackburn held firm and even managed an early strike goalwards from Henchoz but
the ball drifted harmlessly wide.
Just after the hour, Bohinen again went close when he struck a pass from
Stefano Eranio first time from the edge of the area but the ball dipped too late
to trouble Filan.
Derby continued to press as the game wore on with Eranio, Carsley and Baiano
all contributing but it was to no avail as Kidd's defence stood firm.
And had Blake converted from Ward's chipped cross nine minutes from time,
justice may well have been lost.
But Burton proved to the home fans that the Scales of Justice are invariably
balanced when he stooped to conquer six minutes from time leaving Kidd to face
defeat for the first time in his Blackburn managerial reign.
Teams
Derby: Poom, Prior, Carbonari, Schnoor, Eranio,
Bohinen (Harper 75), Carsley, Baiano (Kozluk 84), Dorigo,
Sturridge, Burton.
Subs Not Used: Hoult, Christie, Elliott.
Booked: Baiano, Schnoor.
Goals: Burton 84.
Blackburn: Filan, Kenna, Henchoz, Broomes, Davidson, Wilcox,
Sherwood, McKinlay, Gillespie, Blake, Ward.
Subs Not Used: Peacock, Flowers, Croft, Dunn, Duff.
Booked: McKinlay, Broomes, Kenna.
Att: 27,386
Ref: D Gallagher (Banbury).
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