Match-winner David Bentley hailed Blackburn's "character" after they came from behind to record only their second victory since October with a 2-1 Barclays Premier League win at rock-bottom Derby.
Man-of-the-match Bentley said on Sky Sports News: "We conceded an early goal again which we've been doing in recent games. It makes the game so difficult and tiring.
"If you want to be a top team, you can't concede goals like that.
"We showed a lot of character to come back into the game."
He added: "We want to be up there at the end of the season.
"You have to come to places like this and battle and get the three points."