Hughes made two changes to the side that lost 1-0 at Everton, with Morten Gamst Pedersen and Tugay replacing David Bentley and Brett Emerton in midfield.
Sunderland made three changes to the side that drew with Spurs on Sunday. George McCartney and Dean Whitehead returned from injury and suspension respectively, while Grant Leadbitter was picked for his first league start. Ex-Rover Jonathan Stead had to settle for a place on the bench.
Blackburn started brightly and had two good chances in the opening 10 minutes.
Following a neat interchange down the right, Lucas Neill's cross was only partially cleared and Florent Sinama Pongolle, making his Ewood Park debut, flashed a swinging right foot volley inches wide of the top corner.
On nine minutes, Tugay made a trademark 50-yard pass over the top, Steven Reid eluded the offside trap and despite only getting an outstretched leg to the ball, Kelvin Davies was able to come out and smother.
But despite Rovers' early dominance, the visitors slowly crept into the game.
On the quarter hour, Julio Arca swept a 25-yard volley narrowly over the bar and just six minutes later right-back Nyron Nosworthy squandered a golden opportunity inside the area.
But as the clock ticked towards half-time, the hosts took the lead.
On 38 minutes, Andy Todd found Pedersen on the left and when Davies could only palm the Norwegian's mis-hit shot, Bellamy was on hand to stroke home the rebound.
Fresh from the break, Rovers again looked the more threatening at the start of the second half.
On 47 minutes, former Sunderland skipper Michael Gray crossed for Reid in the centre and the Irishman's well-placed header had to be scrambled round the post for a corner.
But just 16 minutes later, Rovers doubled their advantage. Sergio Peter, on for the unfit Pedersen, produced the game's first real moment of quality with an inch-perfect cross and Bellamy coolly headed home his second of the game.
The woodwork denied the Welshman his first Rovers hat-trick in the 88th minute, as Mick McCarthy's side took another step towards playing Championship football next season.