Blackburn bounced back from their drubbing at Manchester United by beating
10-man Bolton in this Lancashire derby at Ewood Park.
But Rovers were hanging on until substitute Jason Wilcox scored their third in
stoppage time.
Kevin Gallacher marked his 100th full league appearance for Rovers by scoring
the first before Chris Sutton netted their second.
Per Frandsen gave Bolton an unexpected ray of hope eight minutes from time
before Wilcox's intervention.
The match appeared to be over as a contest midway through the first half when
stupidly Alan Thompson became the fifth Bolton player to be sent off this
season.
Defeat ended Bolton's mini revival which had seen them collect seven out of
their last nine points and notch up three consecutive clean sheets.
Many supporters were still settling into their seats when Gallacher opened the
scoring with his ninth goal of the season after two minutes.
Gallacher forced a good save from Keith Branagan at his near post after a
one-two with Sutton and from the resultant corner the Scot knocked home Damien
Duff's corner from six yards out.
After 12 minutes Jeff Kenna crossed for Sutton to head the ball straight into
Branagan's hands.
Rovers continued to press and Duff sent a tantalising ball across the mouth of
the goal, but it was just in front of Sutton.
Blackburn deservedly doubled their lead on 19 minutes when Stuart Ripley beat
Mark Fish and knocked the ball to the back post for Sutton to ram home his 12th
goal of the campaign from close range.
Thompson's afternoon then came to a premature end when he was shown the red
card by referee Mike Riley after 22 minutes for a reckless challenge on Kenna
near the halfway line.
Nathan Blake produced the visitors' first shot on target after 33 minutes from
25 yards out, but unfortunately it was straight at Tim Flowers.
Bolton's disciplinary record leaves a lot to be desired this season and Dean
Holdsworth's yellow card after 38 minutes was his fifth and means he faces a
two-match ban.
Bolton rallied towards the end of the half and Per Frandsen was not far away
with a long-range effort before Flowers blocked a shot from Blake.
Blackburn showed no signs of letting up in the second half and a Sutton effort
was blocked by Fish for a corner before Gallacher shot just past the upright.
Jamie Pollock was then booked for tangling with Tim Sherwood.
Sutton went close to a third two minutes later when his header from Duff's
cross hit Mike Whitlow and went behind for a corner.
Blackburn kept up the pressure on the Bolton goal and Duff sent in a regular
supply of crosses from the left wing before he was substituted by Wilcox.
On 66 minutes Sutton flicked Ripley's cross inches past the post. Bolton then
replaced the ineffectual Holdsworth with Arnar Gunnlaugsson, but to little
effect.
Gallacher was left cursing himself on 81 minutes when he shot straight at
Branagan when clean through.
Frandsen gave Wanderers a lifeline when he converted Blake's cross for his
second of the season.
Blake burst through in stoppage time only to place his shot wide of the
Blackburn goal.
Wilcox finally settled Rovers' nerves seconds later when he slotted home their
third goal of the afternoon and his second of the campaign. end
Teams:
Blackburn: Flowers, Kenna, Sherwood (Flitcroft 77), Hendry,
Ripley (Bohinen 72), Gallacher, Sutton, McKinlay, Croft, Henchoz,
Duff (Wilcox 70).
Subs Not Used: Pedersen, Fettis.
Booked: Sutton, Sherwood, Wilcox.
Goals: Gallacher 4, Sutton 21, Wilcox 90.
Bolton: Branagan (Ward 88), Frandsen, Pollock, Sellars, Blake,
Thompson, Bergsson, Todd, Fish, Whitlow,
Holdsworth (Gunnlaugsson 67).
Subs Not Used: Taggart, Beardsley, Phillips.
Sent Off: Thompson (22).
Booked: Holdsworth, Bergsson.
Goals: Frandsen 84.
Att: 25,503
Ref: M A Riley (Leeds).
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