BURY's five-match unbeaten run came to an end tonight as they were beaten by League One promotion hopefuls Blackburn Rovers.

Some home fans booed Rovers off after the Shakers more than held their own in the first half and Josh Laurent went close for Bury either side of the break.

But Danny Graham broke the deadlock on 51 minutes before Adam Armstrong, who spent the first half of the season on loan at Bolton, doubled Rovers' lead on 67 minutes.

That was enough to send Blackburn top of the table while the Shakers remain second-bottom, 10 points from safety with 13 games left.

Although the game was broadcast live on Sky Sports, almost 1,000 Bury fans travelled for the Shakers' first league visit to Ewood Park in 38 years.

Harry Bunn scored the only goal there in the Checkatrade Trophy in October and played just behind striker George Miller, with James Hanson, Adam Thompson and Stephen Dawson dropping to the bench.

Danny Mayor sliced the game's first shot well wide before Graham's low shot forced Connor Ripley to save with his feet.

Bunn then dragged a 20-yard shot wide and moments later he fired straight at David Raya from a little further out.

Rovers replied with Greg Leigh failing to cut out a diagonal ball to former Bury loanee Elliott Bennett, whose shot deflected over off Peter Clarke.

Armstrong then curled a 25-yard effort wide while Darragh Lenihan knocked a corner down for Corry Evans to fire over from the edge of the box.

Laurent saw some space to burst into just before the break, only to fire wide from 20 yards, and the on-loan Wigan midfielder had a shot deflected just wide after half time.

Mayor then got in behind the home defence but came inside on his stronger right foot and Rovers recovered to block his shot.

Bury had a warning when Derrick Williams glanced a header wide from Charlie Mulgrew's inswinging free kick, but the Shakers failed to heed it as Blackburn opened the scoring moments later.

They let Rovers bring the ball into their half unchallenged then stood off as Bradley Dack waited for Graham's run before chipping it into the box, where the striker got in behind Phil Edwards to head home.

The Shakers made a positive response to falling behind, with Bunn going closest when he fired wide from 20 yards.

But Rovers sealed victory following Lenihan's low cross. Marcus Antonsson's shot was going wide but defender Nathan Cameron seemed to be caught in two minds, keeping the ball in for Armstrong to poke the ball in from close range.

Neil Danns and Miller tried their luck late on but Bury could not claim a consolation as Ryan Lowe suffered his first defeat since being put back in charge.

SHAKERS (4-4-1-1)

CONNOR RIPLEY 7

PHIL EDWARDS 6

NATHAN CAMERON 6

PETER CLARKE 7

GREG LEIGH 7

ZELI ISMAIL 6

NEIL DANNS 7

JOSH LAURENT 7

DANNY MAYOR 7

HARRY BUNN 7

GEORGE MILLER 7

Subs: Hanson 6, 68 (for Ismail), Tutte 6, 78 (for Laurent), O'Shea 5, 78 (for Edwards).

Not used: Dawson, Maguire, Thompson, Murphy.

Blackburn (3-4-1-2): Raya; Lenihan, Mulgrew, Williams; Bennett, Smallwood, Evans, Bell; Dack; Armstrong, Graham.

Subs: Payne 63 (for Evans), Antonsson 63 (for Graham) Nyambe 68 (for Bell).

Not used: Downing, Samuel, Tomlinson, Leutwiler.

Referee: John Busby (Oxfordshire).

Attendance: 12,038 (973 away)