Richard Smallwood struck the winner six minutes from time as Blackburn extended their unbeaten run after a 2-1 victory at Fleetwood.
Smallwood's 84th-minute curler from outside the box was enough to clinch all three points and keep the heat on second-placed Shrewsbury as Tony Mowbray's men made it 16 games without defeat.
Rovers outclassed Fleetwood in the first half with a moment of magic in the 27th minute from Bradley Dack giving them a deserved lead as he rolled the ball under Chris Neal from an angle on the left.
Dominic Samuel rattled the side netting and Derrick Williams' header crashed into the bar but the visitors only took a 1-0 lead in at the break.
Fleetwood came out all guns blazing in the second half and after Danny Graham had hit the woodwork for Blackburn, Conor McAleny pounced.
The forward seized on a poor Charlie Mulgrew back pass and coolly danced past David Raya before rolling the ball into an empty net in the 55th minute.
It was all Fleetwood from that point on but despite chances for Kyle Dempsey, Paddy Madden and Wes Burns they could not find a winner and Smallwood showed the hosts how it is done with minutes to spare.
English League One Standings
POS | Team | GP | GD | PTS |
---|---|---|---|---|
1 | Luton Town | 33 | +38 | 71 |
2 | Barnsley | 33 | +31 | 66 |
3 | Sunderland | 32 | +25 | 62 |
4 | Portsmouth | 33 | +19 | 61 |
5 | Charlton Athletic | 33 | +15 | 56 |
6 | Doncaster Rovers | 31 | +19 | 53 |
7 | Peterborough United | 33 | +7 | 52 |
8 | Blackpool | 32 | +6 | 48 |
9 | Coventry City | 33 | -1 | 46 |
10 | Fleetwood Town | 33 | +8 | 45 |
11 | Burton Albion | 33 | +2 | 43 |
12 | Wycombe Wanderers | 33 | -5 | 43 |
13 | Southend United | 33 | -1 | 40 |
14 | Accrington Stanley | 31 | -9 | 40 |
15 | Scunthorpe United | 33 | -17 | 40 |
16 | Plymouth Argyle | 33 | -13 | 38 |
17 | Gillingham | 33 | -13 | 36 |
18 | Walsall | 33 | -19 | 35 |
19 | Bristol Rovers | 32 | -4 | 34 |
20 | Rochdale | 33 | -26 | 34 |
21 | Shrewsbury Town | 32 | -10 | 33 |
22 | Oxford United | 33 | -12 | 33 |
23 | Bradford City | 33 | -16 | 33 |
24 | AFC Wimbledon | 33 | -24 | 29 |
League One News
Rochdale midfielder Joe Thompson - who beat cancer twice - forced to retire at 29
Joe Thompson has announced his decision after being unable to overcome a hamstring injury sustained on the opening day of the League One season.
Darren Ferguson appointed Peterborough United manager until end of season
Sir Alex Ferguson's son Darren Ferguson has been hired to manage Peterborough United until the end of the season, the club announced on Saturday.
U.S. youth Charlie Kelman scores from own half in pro debut in England
United States youth international Charlie Kelman scored from inside his own half on his professional debut in England.
EFL signs new five-year TV deal with Sky Sports worth £595 million
The EFL has signed a new five-year TV deal with Sky Sports worth almost £600 million, the organisation announced on Monday.
Blackpool manager Gary Bowyer steps down after one game
Blackpool manager Gary Bowyer has stepped down after one game of the new season, the League One side said on Monday.
Arsenal send goalkeeper Matt Macey on loan to Plymouth Argyle
Arsenal have sent goalkeeper Matt Macey out on loan to League One club Plymouth Argyle for the upcoming season.