Local hero Matt Derbyshire rounded off a move oozing with South American flair to finally give Paul Ince his first Premier League home win as Blackburn boss with a 1-0 defeat over Fulham.

Derbyshire, introduced for the final quarter hour, pounced after Roque Santa Cruz flicked a superb through ball from Chilean debutant Carlos Villanueva into his path.

Brett Emerton had had Rovers' best chance with a curling 39th-minute effort which beat Fulham keeper Mark Schwarzer but rebounded off the far post to safety.

Fulham started well and when Simon Davies crossed Andy Johnson looked certain to score only for Paul Robinson to somehow palm his low shot over the bar.

Jason Roberts then flicked the ball on to Keith Andrews who lashed a right-foot shot into the side-netting.

A moment of magic from Emerton almost gave Rovers the lead in the 39th minute when he cut into the box from the left flank and flung in a curling effort which beat Schwarzer but clattered back off the far post.

Fulham created the first chance of the second half when Danny Murphy's neat through ball sent Johnson scampering into the box, but Ryan Nelsen got back well to make a superb saving challenge.

Fulham went close in the 63rd minute when Johnson wriggled clean through in the box and when his low shot was saved by Robinson, Nelsen booted the rebound clear under pressure from Davies.

Derbyshire came on in place of home debutant Keith Treacy and capped his introduction by finishing off the fine move which finally gave Rovers their first home league win of the season.

It might have got even better for the home side in the dying minutes with the impressive Villanueva unleashing a powerful left-foot drive which flashed just wide of Schwarzer's right-hand post.