A blunder by Stockport full-back Shane Nicholson saw Blackburn secure all three points.

Nicholson miscontrolled a cross from Callum Davidson in the 79th minute and saw the ball bobble to Rovers midfielder Jason McAteer who unleashed a left-foot drive from 20 yards into the bottom corner.

But for the second week running County were left rueing a refereeing decision.

After last week's last-minute disallowed goal against QPR, fans and players reacted furiously when a 66nd minute challenge from behind by Rovers Simon Grayson on Karim Fradin was left unpunished.

Before that County, who were fielding new £150,000 striker Ian Lawson, had been the better team in a poor game.

Fradin, Tom Bennett and Kevin Cooper all went close in a battling first half. Fradin in particular was unlucky to see his goal-bound effort miraculously cleared off the line and over the bar by young defender Marlon Broomes.

At the other end Matt Jansen was causing a headache with his dribbling skills and one jinking run saw him beat three men before curling a left foot effort wide.

But he was guilty of a glaring miss when a cross from Gary Flitcroft found him totally clear at the back post, but Jansen totally missed the ball.

After the break Rovers began to take over the game with Jansen again cutting through the County defence at will.

County goalkeeper Ian Gray pulled off two fantastic reflex saves from close range efforts by Flitcroft and Ashley Ward and with the game seemingly heading for a draw McAteer popped up in the 79th minute to grab the winning goal.

The result sees Rovers leapfrog County in the table and hang on to the leaders. For County the season is falling apart after the eighth game without a win.

Blackburn manager Tony Parkes said: "It was a big win for us. I didn't think we were going to win, I thought it was going to be a draw.

"We had two excellent chances in the second half and the keeper made good saves. There weren't many chances and we had to battle and scrap for the result. We have to get used to playing in the First Division.

"In this division we have to scrap and compete and get used to the long ball game."

County boss Andy Kilner said: "As far as I'm concerned it was a penalty - we didn't get anything at all today, we had no luck."

Teams

Stockport: Gray, Connelly, Nicholson, Bennett, Flynn, Cooper, Matthews (Gibb 75), Gannon, Dinning, Lawson,Fradin (Wilbraham 81).

Subs Not Used: Smith, Glennon, Bergersen.

Booked: Dinning, Cooper, Gannon.

Blackburn: Kelly, Davidson, McAteer, Broomes, Ward, Gillespie, Flitcroft, Dailly, Grayson, Jansen, Harkness.

Subs Not Used: Blake, Johnson, Dunn, Peacock, Miller.

Booked: Jansen.

Goals: McAteer 79.

Att: 7,902

Ref: F Stretton (Nottingham).