Bellamy was not considered fit enough for a starting place by Rovers boss Mark Hughes and had to be content with climbing off the bench to finish off a dismal encounter in the last half-hour.

The Welshman raced onto Morten Gamst Pedersen’s pinpoint through-ball eight minutes from time and coolly slid his side’s second goal past helpless keeper Maik Taylor.

Paul Dickov, the man Bellamy had replaced, broke the deadlock three minutes into the second half after winning a spot-kick for being hauled down by Matthew Upson.

Dickov hit the penalty straight down the middle and from then on the home side were scarcely threatened by the struggling Blues, who failed to fashion their first shot on target until 73 minutes.

On this evidence Bruce’s men must consign themselves to a long-term battle against the drop after toiling for no reward against opponents enduring their own distinctly average day at the office.

Dickov had wasted the only clear chance of an unremittingly awful first half in which neither side showed the ambition required to earn three points.

The striker was sent clean through by Shefki Kuqi in the 42nd minute only to hit a weak final shot straight at Blues keeper Maik Taylor.

Everything which had preceded Dickov’s miscue was instantly forgettable, the only passions stirred by the visiting fans’ predictable baiting of their former favourite Robbie Savage.

Indeed the tone for the afternoon was set as early as the second minute when Emile Heskey made his way into referee Barry Knight’s book for a clattering challenge on Ryan Nelsen.

Two poor teams lacked spark with Bellamy left on the bench for Rovers, and Blues midfield playmaker David Dunn not considered fit enough to face his former club.

Savage made the liveliest start, almost setting up a chance for Dickov in the box in the 12th minute, dispossessing Jamie Clapham on the right and sending in a low cross which was cleared.

Despite a purposeful attacking run by Stan Lazaridis which was blocked by Zurab Khizanishvili, the first half was degenerating into a scrappy stalemate which neither keeper called into action.

For what it was worth the visitors were shading possession and Mikael Forssell promised to be quite a handful up front without ever getting the break to test Friedel.

One Forssell run ended when he handled in the box while Clapham’s dangerous-looking free-kick bobbled straight into the Blackburn wall.

Forssell had half-hearted penalty appeals waved away in the 40th minute after rushing into the Rovers box where he was met by a solid challenge from Lucas Neill.

Dickov’s strike early in the second half mercifully opened up the game and it was Rovers who looked most likely to profit with David Bentley’s neat knock-back setting up another chance for Dickov who screwed his shot wide.

At the other end Pennant showed a glimpse of sublime skill to nutmeg Michael Gray on the right but his low cross into the box was easily cleared by Khizanishvili.

The already-booked Heskey could count himself lucky to stay on the pitch just after the hour mark when his lunging challenge on Pedersen earned Rovers a free-kick but no further action from referee Knight.

During treatment for Pedersen, Hughes withdrew goalscorer Dickov and gave Bellamy his comeback chance to a rousing reception from the home fans.

The visitors finally fashioned their first shot on target when Nicky Butt swivelled in a crowded Rovers box and hit a low shot which Brad Friedel held easily.

But Hughes’ substitution was to become even more popular eight minutes from time when Bellamy pounced to send the home fans home happy and give beleaguered Bruce much more to think about.