But that is exactly what happened at Ewood Park as Leicester City defender Nikos Dabizas inadvertently scored a winner for Blackburn, a goal that almost certainly condemns his side to relegation heartbreak.
Leicester boss Micky Adams remained defiant about his side's chances afterwards promising to fight for survival until it is "mathematically improbable" but the truth is his side look doomed after four straight defeats have handed the initiative to their relegation rivals.
The Foxes certainly cannot be accused of not going for it, Adams naming four strikers in his starting line-up but they fashioned just two half-chances in the whole of the game, a chronic inability to win matches the major factor behind their league position.
For their opponents though this win comes at a vital time as Blackburn eased themselves further away from the drop zone and secured consecutive wins for the first time since December.
It was always likely to be a nervous occasion, Portsmouth's earlier win over Manchester United making this match 17th versus 19th at start of play.
Add to the mix Blackburn had not won for five months at home and lost ten games in front of their own fans, a defeat could have left them entrenched in a relegation quagmire.
Therefore, home manager Graeme Souness was a relieved man after the action reaffirming: "Our destiny is in our own hands now. My players have shown a lot of character in the last two games and today we rolled our sleeves up.
"But, there is still a big job to be done, we are not safe yet."
Rovers' chances of staying in the Premiership were given a welcome boost when Dabizas turned Andy Cole's dangerous low ball into his own net after 42 minutes, with Leicester previously having looked the most likely.
The visitors never recovered and could and should have gone further behind as Rovers created good goalscoring opportunities in the second half.
Before the goal this game had epitomised the term "relegation dogfight", two struggling sides desperate for points with plenty of industry but little skill to lift the crowd.
Having said that, the game's only noteworthy save came from visiting keeper Ian Walker in the opening ten minutes, stunningly stopping Vratislav Gresko's deflected free-kick when he appeared to be going the wrong way.
Leicester's four forwards Les Ferdinand, Paul Dickov, James Scowcroft and Marcus Bent however made little impression on a Blackburn defence in which Lorenzo Amoruso was a tower of strength.
The Italian has had his critics since arriving in English football and his season has yet to start properly after a leg injury robbed him of six months playing time.
On this evidence, his steely competitive approach could have proved crucial to Blackburn had he been available all campaign.
In an ugly opening period, Blackburn defenders Gresko and Craig Short brought some light relief to the crowd both clearing the far stand in quick succession with hoofed clearances.
Scowcroft could have scored in the 18th minute, rising high but heading Muzzy Izzet's corner over the top before Rovers' impressive young striker Jonathan Stead blazed wide from 18 yards.
Both sides' long ball approach was making little headway and the Foxes' tactic of swinging high crosses into the box proved low on results. One such occasion picked out Ferdinand but he couldn't find Dickov with his head-back.
Cole then set up Martin Andresen for a terrific drive that skimmed just over Walker's crossbar on 32 minutes before the striker was heavily involved in the eventual winner.
Making a clever run in the channel, Cole raced onto Lucas Neill's pass before cutting the ball back dangerously. With Stead also sliding in, Dabizas was distracted and could merely put the ball into his own net.
In the second half, the visitors were expected to come out fighting, a defeat unthinkable in the course of their season.
Unfortunately for them it was Blackburn who stepped up a gear in the second half and they could have grabbed further goals.
Stead was heavily involved in all Rovers' forward play and the former Huddersfield striker went close in the 54th minute, nicking the ball off his own colleague Andresen and flashing a shot inches wide.
Tugay slipped Cole through only for him to smash wide and then his half-volley from Brad Friedel's deep clearance narrowly missed the other post.
Leicester withdrew the clearly unfit Ferdinand, replacing him with wide man Steve Guppy but the change failed to have much impact.
Bent finally tried to enliven things, nipping to the byline and playing a low ball across but when the resulting scramble came to nothing Scowcroft could only smash wide.
Adams later praised his players for their efforts but recognised it was now an uphill struggle to survive saying: "In terms of effort and commitment we deserved something but the own goal sums up our season.
"We started with four centre forwards as we needed to win the game but we knew it was a gamble.
"We said from day one we'd be in a scrap to stay up but it still hurts."
Blackburn could and should have wrapped up the points in the final 15 minutes, substitute Brett Emerton having a goalbound shot blocked, Dabizas denying Stead and then Stead having a low effort well saved by Walker.
But it was the three points that mattered most for Souness' side and crucially they got them.
For Leicester, after a difficult season, an instant return to the Nationwide League looms ever larger.
MAN OF THE MATCH: Lorenzo Amoruso – The Italian was a rock at the heart of Blackburn's defence as he produced his best display in a Rovers shirt.