Middlesbrough claimed their first win of 2005 thanks to Franck Queudrue's first-half strike.
Stewart Downing fed the Frenchman who cut inside from the left flank before firing into the far corner of the net.
Blackburn were toothless in attack but felt they should have had a second-half penalty when Michael Reiziger appeared to push Paul Dickov in the area.
Boro midfielder Ray Parlour was sent off late on for two bookings but by then the game was beyond Blackburn.
Injury-hit Boro had been forced to draft in Stuart Parnaby at centre-back after Colin Cooper became their latest defensive casualty.
Jimmy Floyd Hasselbaink's absence with flu meant a recall for Joseph-Desire Job up front alongside Malcolm Christie.
But despite their enforced changes, Steve McClaren's side made a strong start, Boudewijn Zenden's rasping shot bringing a fine diving save from Brad Friedel on four minutes.
Boro had the ball in the net soon after but Malcolm Christie's close-range header was ruled out for off-side after Andy Todd gave the ball to Job in his own penalty area.
Dickov looked isolated up front as his side remained on the backfoot and with Downing in impressive form Boro pressed forward.
Downing had already clipped the outside of Friedel's post with a low shot after cutting in from the left, and he played a major role in helping his side take the lead on 35 minutes.
His clever ball found Queudrue on the overlap and the full-back cut in inside before curling a low shot past Friedel and into the corner of the net.
Boro should have had a second goal before the break when James Morrison went for goal with Christie wide open to his left, but Boro still ended the half well on top.
With Robbie Savage and David Thompson competing well in midfield, Blackburn did not lack industry but they were unable to translate that into chances in front of goal.
It was not until the 54th minute that they brought home goalkeeper Mark Schwarzer into action for the first time, when he tipped a Dickov header over the bar.
Rovers boss Mark Hughes brought on Jermal Johnson after an hour to try and add spark to his frontline but Boro retained their stranglehold on the game.
Their only scare came when Dickov appealed loudly for a penalty when he tangled with Reiziger in the area but referee Mike Rilley remained unmoved.
Blackburn's desperation to find an equaliser grew and as they sent men forward Boro substitute Danny Graham capitalised on the gaps they left at the back.
He looked certain to score his first senior goal when sent clear by Zenden but Friedel did well to block his shot.
Parlour was sent for an early bath on 89 minutes after kicking the ball away, but that did not affect his team-mate's resolve and they hung on to end their recent slump.
Middlesbrough manager Steve McClaren felt referee Mike Riley was correct not to award a penalty for the Reiziger-Dickov incident:
"Maybe my eyes are going but I didn't see it.
"There should have been a free-kick to us in the build-up and that is why we remonstrated with the linesman and I didn't think it was a penalty anyway.
"Sometimes it does not matter how you win, and the result is all important. But having said that we deserved to."
Blackburn manager Mark Hughes thought a spot-kick should have been awarded:
"We felt it was a penalty.
"I spoke to the lads after the game and they are convinced Reiziger has bundled into the back of Dickov. It's a clear penalty from our point of view.
"But the assistant referee, who I felt was poor all day, didn't get that decision and didn't help the referee."
Middlesbrough: Schwarzer, Parnaby, Southgate, Reiziger, Queudrue, Morrison (Bates 90), Parlour, Zenden, Downing, Job (Doriva 73), Christie (Graham 69.
Subs Not Used: Nash, McMahon.
Sent Off: Parlour (89).
Booked: Parlour.
Goals: Queudrue 35.
Blackburn: Friedel, Neill, Nelsen, Todd, Matteo, Emerton, Savage, Mokoena (Johnson 60), Thompson (Reid 78), Pedersen, Dickov.
Subs Not Used: Flitcroft, Enckelman, Johansson. Booked: Mokoena, Matteo.
Att: 30,564
Ref: M Riley (W Yorkshire).
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Parlour's sending off was somewhat of a blot on the day but we needed those three points
