Bolton held a Reebok reunion as a trio of Rovers returned to face their old
club.
Nathan Blake, Jason McAteer and Per Frandsen, who have all joined Blackburn in
the last couple of seasons, were all in the visitors' starting line-up.
But after Blake kicked off the celebrations, powerfully heading home a
well-placed Callum Davidson cross on 16 minutes, Wanderers spoiled the party as
the clinically set about dealing Rovers their third defeat on the bounce.
Veteran defender Gudni Bergsson cancelled out Blake's opener only a minute
later also with a thumping header.
And on 39 minutes speedy winger Michael Johansen picked up an Eidur Gudjohnsen
through-ball and beat two Blackburn defenders before slipping the ball between
Alan Kelly and the far post.
Rovers were not without their chances though, Christian Dailly twice headed
over the bar from corners while Frandsen drifted a free-kick fractionally over
the target.
The pace was quick after the re-start and both sides carved out plenty of
chances in the early stages.
McAteer tried his luck from the edge of the Bolton penalty area and Damien
Duff put in another hard-working performance on the right wing but Rovers could
not get a break in front of goal.
Then on 69 minutes Johansen broke from midfield and sprinted down the right
flank before crossing the ball for Gudjohnsen who coolly slammed home Bolton's
third of the afternoon.
But Blackburn's enthusiasm never waned and they continued to fight toe to toe
with Sam Allardyce's men.
Tempers became frayed in the latter stages, Allardyce being cautioned by the
referee and former Rover Paul Warhurst being booked for a late challenge on
Blake.
Tony Parkes introduced fresh legs in Keith Gillespie, David Dunn and Egil
Ostenstad but even they could not find a route to goal, unlike Wanderers' sub
Dean Holdsworth who battled his way into the visitors' box before curling a shot
just wide of the right hand upright only seconds after replacing Bob Taylor.
It was end to end action right until the death with counter-attacks from both
teams. But as the blue and white shirts trudged back down the M61 the Reebok
faithful left in ecstasy after putting one over on their local promotion
rivals.
Teams
Bolton: Jaaskelainen, Holden, Bergsson, Warhurst, Whitlow,
Johansen, Jensen, Elliott, Gardner (Johnston 80), Gudjohnsen,
Taylor (Holdsworth 85).
Subs Not Used: Banks, O'Kane, Ritchie.
Booked: Warhurst.
Goals: Bergsson 17, Johansen 39, Gudjohnsen 69.
Blackburn: Kelly, Grayson, Dailly, Peacock, Davidson, Johnson,
Frandsen, McAteer (Dunn 78), Duff (Gillespie 71), Blake,Ward (Ostenstad 81).
Subs Not Used: Fettis, Broomes.
Goals: Blake 16.
Att: 17,687
Ref: A Wiley (Walsall).
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