JORDAN Rhodes was the last-gasp hero as Rovers left it late to return to winning ways.

There was just four minutes of normal time remaining when master poacher Rhodes pounced to notch his 11th goal of the campaign.

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But up until then it looked like being another frustrating night for Gary Bowyer’s side after former Rovers striker Matt Derbyshire cancelled out Craig Conway’s goal of the season contender.

Conway’s stunning 42nd-minute strike was totally out of keeping with the rest of a flat and forgettable first half.

Rovers started brightly enough with Rhodes seeing two chances come and go inside the first 12 minutes.

He headed the first wide and then sent the second straight at Adam Collin after Chris Brown had knocked a long ball down into his path.

Against deep-lying opponents who set up to frustrate, Rovers bossed the possession in the opening period.

But with Alex Baptiste on for the injured Jason Lowe, who came off with what looked to be another foot injury, they were unable to do anything with it until Conway’s moment of magic.

Not that Rotherham offered much either.

The Millers came into the match on the back of an impressive home win over Ipswich Town.

But you would never have guessed given their complete lack of attacking endeavour before the break.

However the one time they did threaten they had a big appeal for a penalty turned down.

Derbyshire shifted the ball to Connor Newton and his shot appeared to hit the hand of Baptiste.

Relieved by the let-off Rovers went straight down the other end of the field with Tom Cairney taking a pass from Brown and firing in an effort that would have troubled Collin had it not been for Kari Arnason’s block.

But there was nothing Rotherham could do to prevent Conway from opening the scoring in sensational fashion.

The in-form winger was tight to the left touchline when he took a pass from Markus Olsson.

He then cut inside on to his favoured right foot and sent an unstoppable 25-yard curler flying over Collin and into the top corner.

And, before the half was out, Conway so nearly turned provider when he swung over a free kick that was flicked on deftly by Brown but superbly saved by Collin.

Still in the contest, the Millers came out of their shell at the start of the second half and only a brilliant block by Matt Kilgallon prevented Derbyshire from troubling Jason Steele.

But Steele was then tested for the first time, from an Adam Hammill free kick, before Grant Hanley headed a Cairney free kick wide with Collin in no man’s land.

It proved to be one of Cairney’s last acts before he was replaced by Ben Marshall, who came close to putting a finishing touch to a fast breakaway when he flashed a drive narrowly over the bar.

But Rovers were coming under increasing pressure and they cracked in the 72nd minute.

Paul Green was afforded too much time on the right side of the area and his near-post cross was turned home expertly by Derbyshire.

The 28-year-old, who spent six years at Rovers after signing from Great Harwood Town in 2003, did not celebrate his third goal in four games and his first against the club he still supports.

Bowyer threw on top scorer Rudy Gestede and within 10 minutes of his arrival the 13-goal forward headed a Marshall cross agonisingly against the post.

But Rhodes made no mistake in the 86th minute after Marshall headed a deep cross from Conway back into the danger area.

Gestede was unable to get a telling touch. His strike-partner did, though, to send the Ewood Park faithful into rapture.

The drama was not over yet, though, with Green heading wide with the goal at his mercy.

But Rovers held on to close the gap on the play-off places to 10 points.