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Blackburn took a huge step towards Championship safety as Jordan Rhodes' late penalty defeated Millwall.

Karleigh Osborne gave the hosts the lead with a shot on the turn.

David Jones equalised straight from a corner before Rhodes hit the winner after Grant Hanley had been tripped by Lions skipper Danny Shittu, who was sent off at full-time for protesting.

Rovers move five points clear of the relegation zone, one ahead of Millwall, with both teams one win from survival.

Blackburn will be safe if they overcome Crystal Palace at Ewood Park on Saturday.

Thanks to their run to the FA Cup semi-finals, Millwall still have three games to play, but have lost three of the last four.

Lions boss Kenny Jackett saw his side take the lead when former Brentford player Osborne fired home from seven yards, his first goal for the club.

Rovers barely threatened until the closing stages of the first-half, Jones forcing goalkeeper David Forde into a fingertip save from 25 yards.

But the on-loan Wigan midfielder did find the net in the 56th minute straight from a corner which squirmed past Rob Hulse and into the net.

Forde made another good save from David Dunn, but was the keeper was furious when the referee pointed to the spot in the 78th minute.

Both he and Shittu were booked for their protests after Hanley went crashing to the ground following a powerful run.

Although Rhodes sent Forde the wrong way, Millwall missed a great chance to equalise when Osborne was denied a second goal by goalkeeper Grzegorz Sandomierski.

The final whistle saw Shittu continue his protests and the player was shown the red card by referee Gavin Ward.

Millwall manager Kenny Jackett on the penalty decision:

"That decision has cost us.

"I've just seen it again and it looked like a soft decision, in my opinion the referee got it wrong, it didn't look like there was any contact.

"I was looking for the refereeing team to make the right call as it looked soft at the time, and having seen it again it was."

Shittu's protests at the final whistle earned him a red card and Jackett added: "Danny's very upset, but I have to back my player.

"He's a passionate man and he felt very passionately that there was no contact. Unfortunately it was a second yellow which we cannot appeal."

Blackburn caretaker boss Gary Bowyer:

"I thought it was a great run from Hanley, he deserves credit for that, and from where I stood I jumped up because I thought it was a penalty.

"I don't think we should be talking about that, we should be talking about our second-half performance and how brave my players were. Some you get, some you don't.

"Are we safe? No. It's crazy with 56 points but, no, we aren't."