The Blackburn winger was outstanding, scoring one goal and having a hand in the other as Rovers came away with maximum points.

With Roque Santa Cruz continuing his excellent goalscoring run with Rovers’ equaliser, Derby found themselves on the back foot for long spells.

Yet they were dreaming of only their second league win of the season when Matt Oakley put them ahead.

However a missed penalty by Steve Howard proved to be the turning point at Pride Park.

Blackburn regrouped and gave an indication they could be pushing for a place in Europe for the second successive year.

Santa Cruz found the net with his powerful header in the 20th minute but his effort was disallowed for an infringement following a cross from Bentley.

Blackburn boss Mark Hughes was left looking perplexed at the decision as Derby breathed a sigh of relief.

Derby, however, took the lead with their first attack of the game after 27 minutes.

A cross from Tyrone Mears took a slight deflection and Matt Oakley was left clear at the back post.

He rifled in a shot that went under goalkeeper Brad Friedel and into the net.

It was Oakley’s third goal of the season and just the boost the top flight’s bottom club were hoping for.

Bentley almost pulled Blackburn level in the 33rd minute but Lewis Price did well to push his shot to safety.

Derby missed a great chance of extending their lead three minutes later when they were awarded a penalty after Ryan Nelsen brought down Kenny Miller.

Howard saw his spot-kick blocked by Brad Friedel and there was a brief melee when Eddie Lewis went in on the goalkeeper and was booked.

Blackburn drew level in the 38th minute with Santa Cruz’s eighth goal in five games.

He snapped up the rebound after Lewis had parried Benni McCarthy’s shot following a cross from Bentley.

Blackburn then took the lead four minutes later with a blistering 25-yard drive from Bentley after he had evaded Claude Davis’ challenge.

Oakley came close to pulling Derby level a minute before half time but Brad Friedel managed to get a hand to the ball at the last minute to turn it around the post.

Derby fans have stayed loyal during a difficult time with a crowd of 30,048 posted for this match.

Friedel was tested in the 49th minute when substitute Benny Feilhaber rattled in a shot from 20 yards.

Blackburn responded and Morten Gamst Pedersen cut inside a minute later but saw his effort blocked by Davis with McCarthy in a good position.

Bentley then released McCarthy only for Price to boot his shot to safety.

Blackburn stepped up the pressure and Tugay tried his luck from distance but his effort ended wide of the post.

Derby were forced to make a change in the 58th minute when Michael Johnson limped off and was replaced by Craig Fagan.

Pedersen almost added a third for Blackburn two minutes later only for his curling free kick to finish the wrong side of the post.

Derby goalkeeper Price did well to tip over a header from Santa Cruz in the 74th minute as Blackburn attempted to finish the game off once and for all.

A minute later Bentley was left frustrated after his effort came back off the post.

Derby boss Paul Jewell decided to give Jon Macken a run out in the 79th minute after recalling the striker from a loan spell at Barnsley.

He replaced Miller but they were unable to secure a point and relegation for the Rams still looks likely going into 2008.