ROVERS' first game back in the Premiership ended in disappointment here at Pride Park -- but only after a spirited second half fightback from Graeme Souness's promotion heroes.

Italian hot-shot Fabrizio Ravanelli had knocked the stuffing out of the visitors with a stunning opener right on the stroke of half time.

And then when Malcolm Christie applied a neat finish to a sweeping three man move to put the Rams 2-0 up on 64 minutes Rovers looked dead and buried.

However, substitute Nathan Blake then gave the visiting fans hope with a smart finish to reduce the deficit with 18 minutes left.

And it took some late heroics from Derby keeper Mart Poom to finally secure the Rams a welcome opening day victory.

In an entertaining first half it was the visitors who settled first as Poom was forced into saving a Keith Gillespie header in the opening 30 seconds.

But the Rams became more of a force as the half wore on and Ravanelli fired an early warning when he shot over after a rare slip from Henning Berg.

On the stroke of half time Rovers then lost the services of David Dunn who had to be replaced by Craig Hignett following a crunching challenge over by the right corner flag.

And worse was to follow a minute later when Craig Short fouled Craig Burley on the edge of the box and up stepped Ravanelli to fire the Rams ahead with a deadly free kick.

After the break, former Derby defender Craig Short headed narrowly over and a Duff cross just evaded the inrushing Hignett.

But Rovers were rocked to the core again on 64 minutes when Burley found Christie and he swept a low shot past Friedel.

That prompted a fiery response from the visitors and Blake pulled one back when he turned to fire home a clever through ball from Hignett.

In a frantic finale, Short then miskicked in front of goal and Matt Jansen had a 'goal' disallowed for offside deep into injury time.

RESULT: DERBY COUNTY 2 BLACKBURN ROVERS 1, Pride Park, Saturday August 18, 2001