The recalled Gestede gave Rovers the lead inside three minutes when he closed down Jack Hobbs's clearance before heading past Karl Darlow in the Forest goal.

Ben Marshall's cross nearly caught Darlow out after getting caught in the wind, and the goalkeeper was forced to palm the ball onto his own bar.

Antonio restored parity on seven minutes when he connected with a cross to nod past Blackburn keeper Simon Eastwood.

Antonio then turned provider for Lansbury, but the former Arsenal youngster's half-volley flashed just wide on 12 minutes.

Craig Conway's run saw room open up for a shot on 22 minutes, but the midfielder blazed high over the bar as Rovers pushed for the lead once again.

Gestede netted his second 10 minutes before the break when he powered home Conway's cross to go level with teammate Jordan Rhodes on 18 goals for the season.

However, Lansbury levelled things up when he converted Antonio's cutback on the stroke of half time.

Rhodes went close seven minutes into the second period when he turned on the edge of the box before seeing his effort deflected over the bar.

Rovers almost had the lead for a third time when Gestede connected with a long throw, but Darlow did well to acrobatically keep the header out just before the hour mark.

Antonio, who was a constant source of creativity for Forest, nearly had his second of the afternoon when he fired over on 65 minutes, moments after drawing a save from Eastwood.

Gestede completed his hat-trick on 82 minutes when he headed home Conway's deep cross at the back post to give Rovers the lead once more.

Bowyer's men were pegged back once again, though, and it was Antonio who evened things up with a 25-yard effort that flashed into the bottom corner with just two minutes of normal time remaining.