Derby County claim victory over Blackburn Rovers in Ewood Park thriller

Derby County recovered from being 1-0 down inside the opening minute to beat Blackburn Rovers 3-2 in a thrilling clash at Ewood Park this evening.

The home side got off to the perfect start when Ben Marshall's deflected 25-yard effort looped over Lee Grant in the Derby County goal to put the home side ahead after just 47 seconds.

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Derby were level just eight minutes later as the in-form Jamie Ward converted Craig Bryson's left-wing cross at the back post.

Will Hughes put Derby County ahead with a neat left-footed finish from just inside the area on 37 minutes to complete the first-half turnaround.

Ward got his second of the night after 58 minutes when he won possession and burst into the box before curling a low finish into the far corner of Paul Robinson's goal.

The striker could have completed his hat-trick 10 minutes later but his effort from the byline was kept out by the Blackburn Rovers goalkeeper.

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Blackburn Rovers fought back through Rudy Gestede's near-post finish and could have snatched a dramatic draw through Shane Duffy, but the substitute saw his last-minute header cleared off the line.

The result, which sees Derby County rise to seventh in the Championship table, was Blackburn Rovers' first defeat at home in 10 games.