Rovers immediatetly put pressure on Latics, and in the fifth minute, Robbie Savage's thirty yard free kick was heading for the top corner of John Filan's net, but the Latics 'keeper did brilliantly to palm it over the bar.

Latics struggled to make an impact in the early stages, and Paul Scharner received an yellow card in the eleventh minute after a late challenge on Craig Bellamy.

As the first half wore on, the pace of Blackburn's passing was not as urgent as Latics contained them. And it wasn't long before Jewell's men did have their sights on the target.

In the 14th minute when Jimmy Bullard's corner was half-cleared by the Blackburn defence. Scharner was positioned just outside the penalty area, and he fired just past Brad Friedel's near post.

Latics played some great football five minutes later, when Bullard's superb crossfield pass found Teale, who chested the ball to Chimbonda. The French defender crossed back into the penalty area, but Johansson couldn't quite hit the target.

In the 33rd minute Latics nearly demonstrated just why they have one of the division's best away records. Andreas Johansson cut into the penalty area from the left flank, and easily beat Rovers skipper Ryan Nelsen before laying off to Kavanagh, who drove the ball from twenty yards, but it was wide.

But Latics were put under immediate pressure a minute later when Bellamy used his pace to round Arjan De Zeeuw, and referee Phil Dowd blew his whistle to signal that the Latics captain pulled the Blackburn strikers shirt. Thankfully, it was just a yard outside the penalty box, but replays showed the decision was harsh anyway on the Dutchman.

Mortem Gamst Pedersen fired the ball underneath the defensive wall, and Filan did well get down and divert the ball away for a corner.

De Zeeuw actually did despatch the ball into net on the stroke of half-time from Jimmy Bullard's free kick which was lumped into the penalty box, but the linesman disallowed after seeing Jason Roberts in an offside position, although he was not interfering with play.

Half-Time: Blackburn Rovers 0 - 0 Latics

Latics took the lead in sensational style in the 52nd minute. Rovers had to scramble the ball away from Chimbonda's cross, but as Jason Roberts was getting ready to pounce, Lucas Neill scrambled the ball out for a corner.

Then Jimmy Bullard planted the ball onto Pascal Chimbonda's head at the far post, and the Frenchman nodded it onto Jason ROBERTS who then flicked it into the net with the back of his heel! The Latics man showed fantastic technique to give his team the lead.

But the Latics goalscorer received a booking on the hour for elbowing his marker Lucas Neill in the face, but the Latics striker couldn't really complain about it.

Then three minutes later Zurab Kizanishvili fouled Johansson twenty yards from goal and conceded the free kick. It was calmly taken by Bullard, and Roberts should have doubled the advantage after latching onto the pass, but his shot was blocked by Lucas Neill, before McCulloch's shot was then scrambled to safety by the Georgian defender.

Rovers quickly responded through Lucas Neill who drilled wide from 25 yards and Craig Bellamy headed wide at the far post on 67 minutes from Lucas Neill's cross.

There was another controversial moment five minutes later when Leighton Baines appeared to have felled Bellamy, but referee Phil Dowd waved play on. And moments later Bellamy placed a header wide again after Morten Gamst Pedersen's throw-in was flicked on to the Welshman.

Latics nearly capped a fantastic move through Lee McCulloch in the 78th minute, when Leighton Baines' throw-in was headed into the path of Lee McCulloch by Roberts. The Scot raced into the penalty area before aiming for the top corner at the far post, but the ball whistled just over the bar.

McCulloch was involved in another inventive move when he played a one-two with Teale before getting into the box, and squaring it to the far post, but the former Motherwell striker didn't realise there was nobody there to finish his hard work.

Just as Latics looked as though they would hang on, Rovers struck with six minutes remaining, although it was not without controversy. Steven Reid crossed from the right flank, and Lucas Neill tried to connect with the ball but clattered into Filan, and landed at the feet of Shefki KUQI who side footed home, before the Aussie goalkeeper could get back onto his feet.

Filan was called into action moments later again as Craig Bellamy's first time shot was well blocked by the Latics goalkeeper.

Despite the disappointment of conceding another late goal, a point at Ewood Park would have been considered a good result before tonight. Rovers started and ended the match with urgency, but in between Latics worked hard for a result, and are slightly unfortunate not to leave with all three points.

Full-Time: Blackburn Rovers 1 - 1 Latics

Latics Starting Line-Up: Filan, Chimbonda, Baines, De Zeeuw ©, Scharner (Jackson 46), Teale, Bullard, Kavanagh, McCulloch, Johansson, Roberts.

Unused Substitutes: Pollitt, Thompson, Ziegler, Connolly.

Blackburn Starting Line-Up: Friedel, Neill, Nelsen, Khizanishvili, Gray, Bentley (Tugay 59), Reid, Savage, Pedersen, Bellamy, Dickov (Kuqi 59).

Unused Substitutes: Enckelman, Mokoena, Sinama-Pongolle.

Referee: Phil Dowd (Staffordshire)