Blackburn 3 Middlesbrough 2:  Blackburn midfielder Robbie Savage was sent off but he can thank Craig Bellamy for saving his blushes as the on-song striker scored a breathtaking brace to press home Blackburn's bid for Europe.

Savage was harshly done by.  The first decision saw the Welshman initially win a challenge with Middlesbrough’s George Boateng before catching the Dutchman on the follow through.

Savage made his disbelief apparent at the sight of the yellow card in the 54th minute, yet that made way for abject amazement in the 56th.

Boateng’s driven ball upfield caught Savage on his right hand just 10 yards away, although the Blackburn player was turning away from the ball at the time, and his right arm was down by his side.

It did not appear deliberate but Foy did not see it that way and there was a consoling pat on the back from Rovers boss Mark Hughes as the unfortunate Savage made his way down the tunnel.

The game was a whole-hearted, entertaining affair, undeniably aided and abetted by the referee and a swirling wind that often wreaked havoc across Ewood Park.

It certainly appeared to play a part in Boro’s equaliser after Bellamy had maintained his current hot scoring streak with his fifth goal in his last five league appearances.

After Adam Johnson had forced a two-fisted save from Brad Friedel after just 45 seconds with a stinging 15-yard drive, Rovers exerted a degree of pressure which bore fruit in the 11th minute via a solo moment of magic from Bellamy.

With his back to goal, Bellamy still had plenty to do after receiving a short ball from Brett Emerton just inside the right-hand edge of the area. But with a sudden surge of pace, he left Chris Riggott before curling a low, left-foot shot inside Mark Schwarzer’s right-hand post.

Boro were level soon after, primarily due to a wayward throw from Lucas Neill which eluded Zurab Khizanishvili — in for captain Andy Todd due to a dead leg sustained in training in midweek.

Morrison seized on the loose ball and fed Mark Viduka for a rasping drive which seemed to go through Friedel for the Australian’s 11th goal of the season.

But Boro’s relief was short-lived as Rovers regained the lead in the 28th minute, with Morten Gamst Pedersen moving into double figures for the season.

Andrew Davies fouled Bellamy and Pedersen’s low curling free-kick through the six-yard box clearly deceived Schwarzer — Boro’s hero in the Stadio Olimpico on Wednesday.

When Savage was dismissed it appeared to be a turning point, with Boro again drawing level in the 63rd minute through Rochemback, who drove home from 15 yards after Morrison’s pullback.

Yet with everything seemingly going against them, 10-man Rovers manage to capture the points and make it five home wins in a row in the Barclays Premiership.

After receiving a threaded through-ball from Pedersen, Bellamy charged into the area before hammering an angled 15-yard curling effort which flashed past Schwarzer for his 15th goal of the season.

PA