Bolton Wanderers

Sam Allardyce was barred on doctor's orders from returning to his old stamping ground of Bolton while he awaits a minor heart operation, but if he allowed himself a peek on the telly, it would have provided just the tonic.

In his absence, Blackburn Rovers did him proud, deservedly winning this ­Lancashire derby with a first-half goal from the irrepressible David Dunn, back to his best, and one of the most comical own goals of the season by the Bolton defender Sam Ricketts. It is Bolton's manager, Gary Megson, his side stuck in the bottom three, who had most cause to check his blood pressure.

Neil McDonald, Allardyce's assistant, suggested that the manager's withdrawal from the frontline as he prepares for an operation at the end of this week is, at best, tenuous. "Hopefully, we have taken a little bit of stress away and put a smile on his face," he said. "Sam looks after himself? he has check-ups regularly because of the stress of the job. I spoke to Sam last night and again before the game. I haven't had time to check my phone yet, but I'm sure I'll be talking a few more times yet."

While Allardyce awaits his angioplasty and the full skills of the medical profession, Bolton, like a nurse with bad habits, cannot even manage a clean sheet. They have not had one all season and their fourth successive defeat, during which time they have leaked 15 goals, leaves them the most vulnerable of Lancashire's quartet of Premier League clubs.

As for Dunn, he is back to the form that won him a solitary England cap against Portugal six years ago and, at 29, has not abandoned hope of a squad place in South Africa. He left Blackburn the first time after a personality clash with the then manager, Graeme Souness, but he now looks settled, fit and full of devilry.

Gary Cahill's England involvement is a source of pride around Bolton, but he was outwitted by Dunn after 22 minutes in a manner that almost gave Blackburn a lead. Dunn first nudged Cahill off balance and then headed over Bolton's goalkeeper Jussi Jaaskelainen, but Cahill stayed on his feet and recovered rapidly to hook the ball away from the line.

Blackburn, the more methodical side, led after 34 minutes. Dunn broke quickly down the left, Jason Roberts laid the ball back and his adroit finish? a chip to the far post that Jaaskelainen got a hand to but could not divert? brought chants from the Rovers fans of "Dunny for England".

Seconds earlier, Bolton might have gone ahead. Matt Taylor scuffed his low free-kick, but it avoided the wall and a huge deflection off Ryan Nelsen's outstretched leg sent it flailing high against the far post. "Dunn was fantastic, especially in possession," said McDonald. "He just showed what he can do if he keeps himself fit and stays free from injury. He ran from box to box and showed fantastic composure."

Bolton's likeliest moments came from Taylor's right-wing crosses, including a free-kick from wide out which Paul Robinson had to tip over. But Taylor missed a gaping opportunity to level from the resulting corner, in first-half stoppage time, when he headed wide at the near post from three yards out. Robinson also saved smartly from him after half-time.

Dunn might have set up a Rovers second goal early in the second half when his deflected cross was headed clear by Gavin McCann, El Hadji Diouf volleyed back and McCann's bald pate was put to better use with a clearance off the line.

Bolton are shipping goals so regularly that it can prey on the most stable minds. Threats are imagined when none exist; the simplest defensive operation becomes a potential calamity. That was exemplified 17 minutes from time with one of the most comical own goals of the season. Brett Emerton's floated cross carried no danger as Jaaskelainen came for a routine collection, but Ricketts never heard a call and popped a header into an unguarded net.

"The first goal took the wind out of our sails, the second was even worse," said Megson. "Jussi wasn't aware that Sam was going to get there. There didn't seem to be any need for Jussi to come for the ball. It was comic cuts."

Bolton paired Kevin Davies and Johan Elmander in attack but the two strikers were never on the same wavelength

This is not a news report and may contain views expressed by the author which are not supported by GNM.

Sam Allardyce was barred on doctor's orders from returning to his old stamping ground of Bolton while he awaits a minor heart operation, but if he allowed himself a peek on the telly, it would have provided just the tonic.

In his absence, Blackburn Rovers did him proud, deservedly winning this ­Lancashire derby with a first-half goal from the irrepressible David Dunn, back to his best, and one of the most comical own goals of the season by the Bolton defender Sam Ricketts. It is Bolton's manager, Gary Megson, his side stuck in the bottom three, who had most cause to check his blood pressure.

Neil McDonald, Allardyce's assistant, suggested that the manager's withdrawal from the frontline as he prepares for an operation at the end of this week is, at best, tenuous. "Hopefully, we have taken a little bit of stress away and put a smile on his face," he said. "Sam looks after himself? he has check-ups regularly because of the stress of the job. I spoke to Sam last night and again before the game. I haven't had time to check my phone yet, but I'm sure I'll be talking a few more times yet."

While Allardyce awaits his angioplasty and the full skills of the medical profession, Bolton, like a nurse with bad habits, cannot even manage a clean sheet. They have not had one all season and their fourth successive defeat, during which time they have leaked 15 goals, leaves them the most vulnerable of Lancashire's quartet of Premier League clubs.

As for Dunn, he is back to the form that won him a solitary England cap against Portugal six years ago and, at 29, has not abandoned hope of a squad place in South Africa. He left Blackburn the first time after a personality clash with the then manager, Graeme Souness, but he now looks settled, fit and full of devilry.

Gary Cahill's England involvement is a source of pride around Bolton, but he was outwitted by Dunn after 22 minutes in a manner that almost gave Blackburn a lead. Dunn first nudged Cahill off balance and then headed over Bolton's goalkeeper Jussi Jaaskelainen, but Cahill stayed on his feet and recovered rapidly to hook the ball away from the line.

Blackburn, the more methodical side, led after 34 minutes. Dunn broke quickly down the left, Jason Roberts laid the ball back and his adroit finish? a chip to the far post that Jaaskelainen got a hand to but could not divert? brought chants from the Rovers fans of "Dunny for England".

Seconds earlier, Bolton might have gone ahead. Matt Taylor scuffed his low free-kick, but it avoided the wall and a huge deflection off Ryan Nelsen's outstretched leg sent it flailing high against the far post. "Dunn was fantastic, especially in possession," said McDonald. "He just showed what he can do if he keeps himself fit and stays free from injury. He ran from box to box and showed fantastic composure."

Bolton's likeliest moments came from Taylor's right-wing crosses, including a free-kick from wide out which Paul Robinson had to tip over. But Taylor missed a gaping opportunity to level from the resulting corner, in first-half stoppage time, when he headed wide at the near post from three yards out. Robinson also saved smartly from him after half-time.

Dunn might have set up a Rovers second goal early in the second half when his deflected cross was headed clear by Gavin McCann, El Hadji Diouf volleyed back and McCann's bald pate was put to better use with a clearance off the line.

Bolton are shipping goals so regularly that it can prey on the most stable minds. Threats are imagined when none exist; the simplest defensive operation becomes a potential calamity. That was exemplified 17 minutes from time with one of the most comical own goals of the season. Brett Emerton's floated cross carried no danger as Jaaskelainen came for a routine collection, but Ricketts never heard a call and popped a header into an unguarded net.

"The first goal took the wind out of our sails, the second was even worse," said Megson. "Jussi wasn't aware that Sam was going to get there. There didn't seem to be any need for Jussi to come for the ball. It was comic cuts."

Bolton paired Kevin Davies and Johan Elmander in attack but the two strikers were never on the same wavelength

This is not a news report and may contain views expressed by the author which are not supported by GNM.