Brad Friedel stopped a penalty as Blackburn overcame a deficit to halt a five-game winless slide with a 2-1 victory at Derby County on Sunday.

The former US keeper went the distance opposite Ram winger Eddie Lewis, while Benny Feilhaber came on at halftime for the home side.

Roque Santa Cruz was foiled on a pair of early headers, first by a line-clearing Tyrone Mears and then by an offside flag.

The Rams opened the scoring on essentially their first strong attack, with Giles Barnes laid a Mears cross off for Matt Oakley to net.

In the 36th minute, former DC United defender Ryan Nelsen fouled Kenny Miller in the area, but Friedel denied Steve Howard a chance to add on to the lead by making a splendid penalty save.

Three minutes later, Santa Cruz finally got Rovers on the board, leveling matters from a Benni McCarthy rebound.

Blackburn only needed another three minutes to go in front to stay as David Bentley scooped up a loose ball to fire home a low cracker.

Derby started the second period well, with Friedel forced to make a save on Feilhaber and smother Lewis' set-up for Miller in quick order.

Rovers could have piled on in the late going, but Lewis Price not tipped over another Santa Cruz try and Bentley's attempt at a brace found the woodwork.

The teams have little time to regroup before New year's Day, when Rovers host Sunderland and Derby travel to Bolton.

Scoring
DC - Matt Oakley 3 (Giles Barnes) 27'
BLA - Roque Santa Cruz 10 39'
BLA - David Bentley 5 42'

Line-ups
DC - Lewis Price; Tyrone Mears, Claude Davis, Michael Johnson (Craig Fagan 58'), Jay McEveley, Giles Barnes, Matt Oakley, Dean Leacock (Benny Feilhaber 45'), Eddie Lewis, Steve Howard, Kenny Miller (Jon Macken 79')

BLA - Brad Friedel; Brett Emerton, Zurab Khizanishvili, Ryan Nelsen, Stephen Warnock, David Bentley, Tugay (David Dunn 90'), Aaron Mokoena, Morten Gamst Pedersen (Jonas Olsson 83'), Roque Santa Cruz, Benni McCarthy (Matt Derbyshire 87')