BLACKBURN Rovers boss Gary Bowyer got the ruthlessness in both boxes he has been calling for as his side returned to winning ways with a late 2-0 home victory over relegation-threatened Millwall last night.

Neil Harris’ lowly Lions wasted a string of chances to go in front before prolific Rovers duo Rudy Gestede and Jordan Rhodes made them pay.

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Gestede opened the scoring with in the 78th minute when he volleyed home a deflected Craig Conway cross to take his tally for the term up to 20.

And, in injury-time, Rovers’ top-scorer turned provider for substitute Rhodes to net his 19th goal of the season.

Bowyer could not hide his delight with his 39-goal strikeforce.

But he took as much pleasure from injury-ravaged Rovers’ 11th clean sheet of the campaign – especially as by the end of the match their back-four contained just one player playing in his correct position.

Bowyer said: “I thought Millwall showed tremendous spirit. Even after tonight’s result, I don’t see them being out of it completely, it could go all the way to the last game of the season.

“I think Neil has gone in and done a terrific job so soon and you even saw them at the death there.

“We needed Steeley (Jason Steele) to make the save and they were still putting us under pressure. We knew that they would come and do that.

“We’ve just been clinical in front of goal and we’ve managed to keep a clean sheet, which is something we have been striving for in the last couple of games.

“I thought Craig Conway was magnificent all night, both in his performance and his attitude, and he’s put another telling cross in and, after the deflection, Rudy’s got on the end of it and it’s a fantastic finish from the angle that it was at.

“And then the big man’s turned provider with a fantastic through ball for Jordan and he finishes it so coolly. He’s took it early and passed it past (David) Forde. It was a fantastic finish.

“And we could have had more. Tom Cairney has been wasteful in front of goal and should’ve done better and then we should have been a little bit cuter in setting one or two up but overall we’re pleased with the clinical finishing of the front two again.”

Young midfielder Darragh Lenihan slotted it at centre-back after captain Matt Kilgallon came off with a thigh injury.

And Bowyer said: “It’s another blow for us in terms of centre-halves and that’s the real pleasing part, as if you looked at the back-four, there’s only Markus Olsson playing in his rightful position.

“I thought Darragh Lenihan for his debut came on and did ever so well. He was really keen and enthusiastic as we knew he would be.

“To get a clean sheet is a testament to the group of players.”

Gestede and Rhodes’ haul of 37 league goals is as many as Millwall have scored in the Championship this season.

And their caretaker boss Harris said: “I’m frustrated, definitely. Their two goalscorers have scored more goals than my whole squad so I think it’s clear to see why they’ve won that game 2-0.

“We talk about the positives, how good we were, how many chances we created, but ultimately to win games of football you have to score goals.

“I thought the whole team was outstanding, the subs were outstanding. I’m disappointed for the back-four and the keeper. I thought we were excellent but ultimately we didn’t take the chances.

“The fact we haven’t scored enough goals this season clearly shows where we are in the league.”