Blackburn Rovers 1 - 2 Bolton: Colye’s side heap misery on isolated Kean

BLACKBURN manager Steve Kean was booed down the tunnel for possibly the last time as his Rovers side lost their relegation duel with Bolton at Ewood Park.

Mark Davies gave the visitors the perfect start with his fourth-minute opener and Nigel Reo-Coker doubled Bolton’s lead before the break. Aiyegbeni Yakubu did pull one back for Rovers in the middle of a much-improved second-half display but it was not enough.

Bolton manager Owen Coyle axed skipper Kevin Davies from his starting line-up for the crunch basement showdown. David Ngog took over from the veteran front-man and Martin Petrov was also recalled as Coyle desperately searched for a win that would haul his side off the foot of the table.

Kean was without defender Scott Dann, who has been ruled out for six weeks with a groin injury, and Scotland international Grant Hanley stepped into a team which also included the recalled Junior Hoilett.

Bolton won a corner in the opening minute as Jason Lowe’s screwed clearance sent Mark Davies’ cross behind. And as David Dunn cleared came the first chants of “Kean Out” from the home fans, which grew in their ferocity after just four minutes, when Bolton went in front. The home defending was pretty shambolic as Christopher Samba gets his clearance all wrong inside his own penalty area.

Ngog had enough time to recover his position deep inside the home penalty area, then cut a pass back to an unmarked Davies, who stroked a first-time effort beyond Paul Robinson.

Mauro Formica was booked for clattering into Gretar Steinsson shortly afterwards, then Fabrice Muamba had an effort deflected over as Bolton maintained the early offensive.

Lowe was shown a yellow card for hauling down Petrov as the hosts struggled badly, Yakubu underhitting a pass that would have sent Hoilett through.

The atmosphere in the stands was mutinous, though, with chants of “Hughesy” indicating the natives want former boss Mark Hughes installed as Kean’s replacement.

Ivan Klasnic then started the move that ended with Bolton bagging their second, finding Nigel Reo-Coker with a deft touch. Reo-Coker then found Petrov, who raced down the left wing before crossing back to the midfielder, who despite having his back to goal, had enough time to turn and drill a low shot into the bottom corner.

Coyle’s euphoria on the touchline contrasted sharply with the desolation of Kean, who heard more calls for his head, with the Blackburn supporters also venting their anger at the owners, Venky’s, who they blame for landing the club in the mess they were in.

The Bolton fans - amongst whom was injured midfielder Stuart Holden - were quick to rub it in, bellowing “You should have kept Big Sam”, which the Blackburn fans quickly agreed with. Hoilett fired a long-range effort over just before the half-time whistle, which brought a fresh chorus of insults.

Kean was roundly booed as he took his place for the start of the second period. His team came so close to giving him something to shout about though, with Hoilett pulling the ball back to Nzonzi whose effort flew just over with Jussi Jaaskelainen nowhere.

Blackburn somehow failed to convert in a mad goalmouth scramble and on the counter-attack Davies found Petrov but Robinson made the save. Hanley then slid in to deny Klasnic a shooting chance and referee Martin Atkinson waved play on when Ngog went down under Samba’s challenge.

Cahill blocked Yakubu’s shot on the turn, then Formica and Simon Vukcevic were replaced by Ruben Rochina and David Goodwillie. The move paid instant dividends as Goodwillie came in from the left and flicked a pass through to Yakubu, who slotted home with ease.

Now it was real end-to-end stuff as Yakubu’s shot flew wide off Cahill, then, from the corner, Petrov’s cross rolled agonisingly in front of Tuncay as Bolton blew a three-on-one counter-attack. A dreadful clearance from Jaaskelainen allowed Hoilett a run at the Blackburn box but he fired over. Samba wasted Rovers final chance with a header just wide in the final minute of stoppage time and Kean strode away like a condemned man.

Blackburn: Robinson, Lowe, Samba, Hanley, Pedersen, Hoilett, Dunn, Nzonzi, Vukcevic, Formica, Yakubu. Subs: Bunn, Petrovic, Rochina, Blackman, Goodwillie, Roberts, Henley.

Bolton: Jaaskelainen, Steinsson, Cahill, Knight, Alonso, Mark Davies, Reo-Coker, Muamba, Petrov, Klasnic, Ngog. Subs: Bogdan, Robinson, Eagles, Sanli, Kevin Davies, Pratley, Boyata.