Bolton 1 Blackburn 2:Bolton's prospects of playing Champions League football next season faded into the realms of fantasy yesterday. With matches at Manchester United, Arsenal and Chelsea still to play, Sam Allardyce's team were well aware they could not afford to slip up at home to local rivals. Unfortunately they played with a sense of anxiety that suggested they could not cope with that knowledge.

Bolton's obvious lack of confidence, a hangover perhaps of their heavy defeat at Tottenham last week, encouraged Blackburn to push forward.

David Bentley should have put the visitors ahead when Matt Derbyshire's pass found him unmarked and with only Jussi Jaaskelainen to beat. He side-footed high over the bar.

The incident gave the match the drive and focus it had lacked. Bentley shot straight at Jaaskelainen, Kevin Nolan headed just wide and shortly before half-time Ivan Campo smashed a left-foot volley from outside the area just wide of Brad Friedel's post.

Blackburn continued to be positive after the interval and shortly before the hour they had their reward, courtesy of a challenge by Gary Speed on Bentley. Rob Styles, pointed to the spot and Benni McCarthy beat Jaaskelainen to the goalkeeper's right.

Wanderers were almost level within a minute. Speed won an unlikely header to set up Henrik Pedersen for a firm low shot that beat Friedel only for David Dunn to kick it off the line.

Astonishingly, Bolton then concede another penalty, in almost identical circumstances. This time the protagonists were Abdoulaye Faye and McCarthy and the foul was even clumsier.

McCarthy went the same way from the spot and, though Jaaskelainen got a hand to it, the shot bounced into the roof of the net.

With three minutes remaining Ricardo Vaz Te executed a remarkable mid-air flick for Nicolas Anelka to beat Friedel with an angled shot.

Guardian Service