Bolton on-loan striker Bob Taylor struck a 66th-minute dagger through the
hearts of Blackburn's UEFA Cup hopes - and gave Colin Todd a priceless lifeline
to Premier League safety.
The West Brom forward hit his second goal for Wanderers after a previous
strike in a previous loan spell in February.
Under-fire record signing Dean Holdsworth had given Bolton a 20th-minute lead
to silence the crowd critics who had jeered his name prior to kick-off.
Damien Duff struck a 51st minute equaliser for Rovers with a deflected strike
off Wanderers defender Andy Todd.
But after replacing Holdsworth in the 59th minute Taylor latched on to a Per
Frandsen through ball to hammer home his second Bolton goal of the season.
To rub salt further into Rovers wounds, Jason Wilcox became the 11th player to
be dismissed at the Reebok Stadium when he collected his second yellow card in
the final minute for a late challenge on goal hero Taylor.
Holdsworth's 20th minute opener was a reward for midfielder Alan Thompson as
well.
The former Newcastle man had unleashed a powerful swerving strike from 25
yards which left Alan Fettis grasping for air.
The strike bounced back off the underside of the crossbar to leave Holdsworth
with the simplest of chances to nod home over the Northern Ireland international
for only his second goal in 18 appearances.
Five minutes earlier Gary Flitcroft had appeared to give Rovers the lead but
his header from Chris Sutton's cross cracked against the woodwork.
And two minutes after Holdsworth's opener Blackburn defender Colin Hendry
looked certain to score as his header from Duff's flighted cross arched
goalwards. But Wanderers schemer John Sheridan hooked the ball clear off his own
goalline.
Blackburn captain Tim Sherwood tamely headed into the arms of Keith Branagan
in the 26th minute when Chris Sutton's flicked ball found the former Norwich man
unmarked in the area.
But there were red faces for rival strikers in the final minute of the half.
Stephane Henchoz failed to control a back pass five yards outside his own area
leaving Nathan Blake free to run on goal. But Wanderers' top goalscorer judged
his chip badly and the opportunity flew high over Fettis' bar.
Seconds later Kevin Gallacher created a small opening for himself to meet
Sutton's cross. But the 18-goal striker miscued his shot wide of Keith
Branagan's goal.
But after only six minutes in the second-half Rovers had pulled themselves
level.
After enjoying dominant possession in the early stages of the period they had
been unable to find an avenue through Bolton's three man central defence.
But a neat combination between Flitcroft and Sutton eventually unlocked the
door for Duff and he shot from 20 yards.
The Irish youngster's strike was heading comfortably to Branagan until a cruel
deflection off Todd took the ball out of the grasp of Branagan and into the
bottom right-hand corner of the Bolton net.
In the 59th minute manager Todd replaced his goalscoring hero Holdsworth with
another in the shape of Taylor. The applause which warmly saluted the
£3.5million man was a testament to his battling performance.
And in the 63rd minute Taylor almost produced an immediate response. He
bewildered Hendry with a magical back heel on the edge of the six-yard box and
looked certain to score until a lunging tackle from Billy McKinlay saved the day
for Rovers.
Then three minutes later he succeeded in adding to his previous solitary
strike for Wanderers. Sherwood lost control of the ball in the centre circle
leaving Thompson a free run through a Rovers team which backed off as he strode
forward. His pass to Frandsen was flicked on around right-back Jeff Kenna and
Taylor hooked home a shot from 18 yards to seal the points.
Blackburn had no response as the crowd urged Wanderers forward. And their
misery was compounded in the final minute when Wilcox - already cautioned for a
foul in the 52nd minute - committed a similar crime on goal hero Taylor to leave
referee Mike Riley with no option but to dismiss him.
Teams
Bolton: Branagan, Cox, Fish, Thompson, Aljofree, Fairclough,
Sheridan, Todd, Frandsen, Blake, Holdsworth (Taylor 59).
Subs Not Used: Ward, Strong, Salako, Giallanza.
Booked: Todd.
Goals: Holdsworth 20, Taylor 67.
Blackburn: Fettis, Kenna, Sherwood (Ripley 76), Hendry,
Gallacher (Dahlin 76), Sutton, Wilcox, Flitcroft, McKinlay,
Henchoz, Duff.
Subs Not Used: Broomes, Davidson, Williams.
Sent Off: Wilcox (90).
Booked: Wilcox, Hendry.
Goals: Duff 51.
Att: 25,000
Ref: M A Riley (Leeds).
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