Mathias Jorgensen scored twice as Blackburn won 3-1 at QPR in new boss Michael O'Neill's first match in charge.
It was the perfect start for the Northern Ireland manager, who will perform both jobs until the end of the season after this week being handed the task of keeping Rovers in the Championship.
O'Neill inherited a side third-bottom of the table, having won just one of their previous 10 league matches and only two of their past 16, but victory lifted them out of the relegation zone and up to 19th.
Jorgensen put them ahead on 21 minutes and restored the lead after Koki Saito's equaliser before Ryoya Morishita's goal early in the second half sealed the victory.
Morishita brilliantly set up the opening goal, nutmegging Rhys Norrington-Davies on the right flank and delivering a perfect ball between Rangers centre-backs Steve Cook and Jimmy Dunne for Jorgensen to slot past goalkeeper Joe Walsh.
The goal came completely against the run of play, QPR having dominated the opening stages and almost taking the lead when Saito's ball in from the right was sent looping towards goal by Richard Kone and was cleared by Rovers defender Eiran Cashin.
Rangers responded well to going behind and levelled after 35 minutes when Isaac Hayden's low shot was controlled by Saito, who crashed a right-footed shot into the top corner of the net.
However, five minutes later, Saito lost possession to Sondre Tronstad, who played in Jorgensen to again sneak between Rangers' centre-backs and score, taking the Norwegian's tally to three goals in seven appearances since his move from Bodo Glimt a month ago.
Tronstad then set up Rovers' third, scored by Morishita five minutes into the second half, crossing from the right-hand edge of the penalty and crossing for the Japan international to head home unmarked - again in between Cook and Dunne.
QPR's experienced defensive partnership had been working well, with both men in great form and Julien Stephan's side having kept three consecutive away clean sheets.
But this was an inexplicable horror show from them and Cook was taken off in the second half.
The hosts twice went close in stoppage time as Hayden Carter produced a superb block to prevent Ronnie Edwards from scoring after keeper Balazs Toth had made the initial save, and moments later Dunne headed wide.
It was a deserved and much-needed win for Rovers, albeit somewhat marred when Lewis Miller, on as a half-time substitute, was carried off on a stretcher a few minutes after the third goal after appearing to land awkwardly.
Rangers, meanwhile, continue to be plagued by injuries as key midfielder Nicolas Madsen limped off midway through the second half.
QPR's Julien Stephan:
"We conceded easy goals and normally we are stronger defensively. It was too easy for them to score these three goals.
"I thought we were good in the first half. We started the game with a lot of hunger and we wanted to win.
"But then you don't use the possibilities you have to score the first and perhaps the second one - and they had two shots in the first half and scored two times.
"They then shot one time at the beginning of the second half and scored. So it was a question of efficiency."
Blackburn's Michael O'Neill:
"It was a great result. I only arrived in the building yesterday at 11am, so the work was done by Damien Johnson all week. He prepared the team and did a fantastic job.
"The front two have a lot in them. They played really well with each other.
"That was Damien. He felt the two up top would benefit us. Having them give us what they gave us, in and out of possession, was a real bonus.
"Damien said he felt it would really benefit the team if I was in the dugout, so I took guidance from him.
"It's nice to be here and to take some credit, but the credit really lies with him because he prepared the team and picked the team."
