Premier League - Blackburn boost Big Sam

Eurosport - Sun, 22 Nov 15:29:00 2009

David Dunn's strike and a calamitous own-goal by Sam Ricketts gave absent boss Sam Allardyce a lift as Blackburn beat local rivals Bolton 2-0 in the Lancashire derby at the Reebok Stadium.

2009-10 Premier League Blackburn David Dunn - 0

Allardyce is facing heart surgery and was on strict doctor's orders not to even watch the game on television as he prepares for an operation on Friday.

Assuming he took his physician's advice, he missed his side finally break their dismal away record, which had previously seen them lose 10 consecutive games on the road.

Man of the match Dunn opened the scoring with a delightful strike just after the half-hour mark before Ricketts headed into his own net with 17 minutes remaining to effectively settle the game.

Rovers' first away win of the season - indeed their first since March - saw them rise to the relative safety of 11th place.

But the result for Bolton, who fell to their fourth defeat in five games, was altogether less promising - Gary Megson's side end the weekend in the relegation zone.

With Allardyce elsewhere, his assistant Neil McDonald took charge for the day and he will be able to report back on an inspirational display from Dunn.

The sole creative force of this Blackburn side, Dunn was again at the centre of most of Rovers' attacking play.

Early on, he volleyed narrowly wide of the mark before he saw a header cleared off the line by Gary Cahill on 23 minutes.

So, when the opener came, the scorer's identity came as no surprise. It a lovely strike, the Blackburn-born player digging out a curling first-time effort that beat Jussi Jaaskelainen and nestled in the far corner.

The goal came just seconds after Bolton had themselves been denied the opener by the angle of post and bar, Mathew Taylor's free-kick deflecting onto the woodwork off Ryan Nelsen's outstretched boot. Such are the margins between success and failure.

Taylor, playing on the Bolton right, was heavily involved during the opening period, although his other two notable contributions revealed a real lack of cutting edge in front of goal - the first chance a miscued volley after Gael Givet allowed him in behind and the second a header over the bar from two yards out.

Otherwise, Allardyce did not miss much during a fitful opening period, typical of a derby match involving two sides struggling in the lower reaches of the Premier League.

The second half was altogether a more entertaining affair, as Blackburn pushed forward in search of a second goal that would kill the game off.

Bolton midfielder Gavin McCann was twice forced to clear off the line, from El Hadji Diouf and Nelsen, either side of Dunn's clever through pass for Franco Di Santo, who could only fire against Jaaskelainen.

Taylor did manage to bring Robinson into action with a crisp strike from the edge of the penalty area on 72 minutes, but soon after a horrible lack of communication between Jaaskelainen and Ricketts put the game out of Bolton's reach.

Ricketts did not see his keeper come to claim the same ball and only realised the Finn was off his line after he had headed back towards goal. The ball bounced into the empty net, prompting the inevitable recriminations in the Bolton back line, while Rovers celebrated their second goal of the game - and just their fifth away goal of the season.

Credit to Bolton, they refused to accept defeat and substitute Ivan Klasnic went close to pulling one back on 88 minutes. But having rounded Robinson, his effort on goal was cleared off the line by Lars Jacobsen.

It proved to be the last meaningful action of the game, as Blackburn held firm to secure Lancastrian bragging rights for the immediate future - and give Allardyce a real tonic.

Mike Hytner / Eurosport

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  1. I am not a big fan of people getting sacked in­ Football­ and I am proud that Bolton FC are not a­ sacking club, Big Sam was not­ a fans favourate at­ first but he said give him time and­ he would get us in­ the premier league. He did better­ than that, he kept­ us up, got us into Europe and nearly­ the Champions­ league.

    However Megson should not be­ given another­ second at Bolton. He has had twice the­ amount of­ transfer funds made available to him than Big­ Sam ever­ did and the best he has done is keep us up.­
    Well did­ he keep us up? No the players did and also the­ poorer­ teams below us.
    Megson shows no ambition and I­ hear­ that the players do not like him, his training­ methods­ and his old fashioned mangement. He seems to­ blame­ everything on either the fans or the players but­ has­ never once thought it could be him and his backroom­­ staff. He is at best a Championship manager and Bolton­­ need to act now as I cant see things improving.
    I can­­ see our better players leaving the sinking ship come­­ January and the club will probably sell and start­­ planning for life in the Championship.
    We have been­­ flirting with relegation for a few years now but I­ feel­ this season will be our last in the premier­ league­ unless drastic action is taken this week.

    One­ final point - Elmander???? How he gets ahead of Klasnic­ I will never know. Elmander and Davo cannot play­ together and even I can see that. I think 8 million or­ whatever it was is the most expensive flop in our­ history.

    January needs to see the signing of one top­ class defender as we have not kept a clean sheet all­ season and a midfield general.

    From Colly, on Mon 23 Nov 7:08PM

  2. Living in Devon now I only get to watch Bolton on T.V.­ so Sundays game is all I'm going on but Bolton were­ really really poor!! Lack of passion, skill and­ effort.Some players were so slow it amazed me!What do­ these professional footballers practice all week?­ Bolton seem to pose no threat at all from scoring in­ open play-just hoping for long throw-ins and free­ kicks! If Elmander is worth £11million I'm worth­ £8million and I am 57 with 2 knackered knees!!­ C'mon Bolton-stop blaming Megson and play with your­ hearts--Sundays performance was absolutely shocking!!1

    From colin.locker, on Mon 23 Nov 3:03PM

  3. FUDBALERI IDU NA SVETSKO PRVENSTVO, A NOGOMETASI SEDE­ KUCI!!!!!

    From dinokic, on Sun 22 Nov 11:53PM

  4. RAZLIKA IZMEDJU FUDBALERA I NOGOMETASA :

    From dinokic, on Sun 22 Nov 11:52PM

  5. trotters your a laughing stock,get rid of megson before­ you drop out of the league...he's f#@?in clueless!

    From ANDREW B, on Sun 22 Nov 11:08PM

  6. phil.high. where in east yorkshire are you?

    From dave.hindle, on Sun 22 Nov 10:08PM

  7. Rovers urgently need to sit down with David Dunn and­ start discussing a new Contract.

    He is back to his­ pre-Birmingham best. Thought Brett Emerton had a great­ game too.

    On teletext they gave the top mark to Diouf­ - they weren't watching the same game I­ was!!!!

    All the best for the operation Sam but you now­ know the team is in safe hands. Phil (East Yorkshire­ Roverite).

    From philip.high, on Sun 22 Nov 7:17PM

  8. it`s about time we had some LUCK we have had non since­ Jack passed away (RIP Big Man) but we were the best­ team by far,also it goes to show how good we can play­ when everyone TRIES! we can`t play the Dingles every­ week (Pity) but I do think all the 3 hard games in­ October have helped with the fitness.
    OK we shipped 13­ goals BUT we will get them back from any team that is­ not in the Top six, but give Sam the time and a few bob­ to spend and we will be up with the top six in two­ seasons.
    Let`s hope Sam make`s a speedy Recovery and we­ will soon see him on the line RORING Our team to more­ and more VICTORYS!
    Come-On You Blues!!!

    From CATWEAZLE1066, on Sun 22 Nov 4:00PM

  9. Megson out Gartside out. They have no ambition and are­ ruining this club

    From Colly, on Sun 22 Nov 3:48PM

  10. Should be a good game, I predict Allerdyce will beat­ his former club and Blackburn will get their first away­ win of the season. I think there will be lots of­ incident and goals though.
    My prediction:
    Bolton 2 - 3­ Blackburn

    From mark_09081984, on Sat 21 Nov 10:22AM

  11. You've got to laugh or cry,but most of all it,s­ LAUGH with this comedian in charge,or as colin crompton­ used to say"Pies have come,and put plenty pepper­ on cos they've walked it" another saying­ which is quite apt is
    "Dont go down the mine­ Gary,there's plenty slack in thee pants"

    From moncam, on Thu 19 Nov 6:33PM

  12. Like the sense of humour. I'm a rovers man and I­ think it has draw written all over it though on­ previous showings it should be away win..

    From Stephen, on Thu 19 Nov 6:02PM

  13. You missed out 1) Megson has now made more excuses than­ ferguson and venger put together. 2)His new book will­ go on sale before saturdays game.3) You will see him on­ MOTD giving a personal reading(i think he will use­ excuse number 5981 which you will find on page six.
    And­ the last match fact will be = 20,000 bolton fans wait­ for his resignation

    From moncam, on Thu 19 Nov 4:38PM
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