Norwich City remain on the edge of the play-off spots after they were pegged back at Ewood Park.
The Canaries took a first -half lead through Marcelino Nunez, who planted a beautiful free-kick into the top left corner on 22 minutes - but the Chilean limped off late in the game with what looked like a hamstring injury.
But on 57 minutes, Rovers defender Dominic Hyam rose high and powered a header past Angus Gunn to earn the hosts a point, ending a run of five successive home league defeats to the Canaries.
City had started the day ninth in the table, leapfrogged by Preston after their 3-0 win at Coventry on Friday evening.
That result may not have suited the Canaries, but Hull City’s 1-1 draw at home to West Brom would have been welcome.
By close of play they had risen to seventh, three points behind Hull.
BLACKBURN:
Substitutes:
3 Pickering (Hedges 15)
4 O'Riordan
7 Sigurdsson (Dolan 85)
12 Wahlstedt
24 Moran (Buckley 75)
30 Garrett
33 Telalovic
44 Ayari
45 Chrisene
Head coach: John Eustace
Bookings: S Wharton, Dolan
Goal: Hyam 57
NORWICH CITY:
Substitutes:
12 Long (GK)
8 Gibbs (Fassnacht 85)
10 Barnes (Nunez 75)
14 van Hooijdonk
15 McCallum (Giannoulis 85)
19 Sorensen (Hanley 85)
21 Batth
25 Hernandez (Sainz 63)
35 Fisher
Head coach: David Wagner
Bookings: Gibson, Fassnacht
Goal: Nunez 22
KEY MOMENTS
1 – Giannoulis clips a ball in behind for Fassnacht to collect on the right. His low cross is cleared for a corner by McFadzean
5 - Fierce strike from Tronstad on the edge of the box is held well by Gunn.
20 – Gallagher rises to meet a Blackburn corner but Gunn produces a fine stop to deny the forward from close range
22 – GOAL NORWICH (NUNEZ) – McLean wins Norwich a free kick in a dangerous position on the edge of the penalty area. Nunez steps up and curls it into the top left corner of the net. 0-1
24 – Norwich have a chance to make it two when Sara plays Sargent in behind. The American’s effort from a tight angle is denied by Pears
29 – Pickering’s ball in behind is latched onto by Gallagher. He tries to sneak the ball in at the near post, but Gunn does well to deny him
34 – Gallagher meets Buckley’s cross from the left and heads it goalwards, but once again Gunn produces a reaction stop to prevent an equaliser
HALF TIME – BLACKBURN ROVERS 0-1 NORWICH CITY
50 – Fassnacht has a chance to double the Canaries lead after beating the offside trap to latch onto Sara’s clipped pass over the top. He tries to round Pears, who wins the ball with his feet to allow Blackburn to clear
57 – GOAL BLACKBURN (HYAM) – The defender rises highest to connect with Pickering’s corner from the right. He powered the header past Gunn and into the net. 1-1
65 – Hanley meets Sara’s curling free kick from the left at the far post – but gets underneath the ball and can only direct it over the bar
77 – Pantomime villain Ashley Barnes is unable to direct Hernandez’s cross from the left goalwards
79 – McLean slides Sargent in behind Blackburn’s defence, but Pears darts out of his box to clear the ball
FULL TIME – BLACKBURN ROVERS 1-1 NORWICH CITY
PLAYER RATINGS
Gunn 8; Stacey 6, Hanley 5, Gibson 7, Giannoulis 5; McLean 7, Nunez 7; Fassnacht 5, Sainz 5; Sara 6, Sargent 5. SUBS: Hernandez 6, Barnes 5, Gibbs N/A, McCallum N/A, Sorensen N/A
MATCH STATISTICS
Possession: 41%-59%
Shots: 10-7
On target: 5-3
Corners: 6-6
Fouls: 14-6
REFEREE: Oliver Langford
ATTENDANCE: 12,956
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