Two penalties from Benni McCarthy inspired Blackburn to a 4-1 victory over Bolton in a gritty and engaging Lancashire Derby at Ewood Park.

McCarthy drove the ball past Jussi Jaaskelainen mid-way through the first half after Mark Clattenburg had cruelly penalised Gretar Steinsson for a tackle on David Dunn just inside the Bolton area.

Bolton equalised shortly after half-time when Kevin Davies converted from close range, before McCarthy fired the home side back in front from the spot after Gary Cahill's clumsy tackle on Dunn.

Dunn then turned provider for David Bentley to extend Rovers' lead and Morten Gamst Pedersen's injury time finish produced a final scoreline that did little testament to their opponents' dogged endeavour.

Blackburn almost got off to a dream start when McCarthy drew a save from Jaaskelainen with a half-volley from the edge of the box after barely 10 seconds, before Gary Megson's side nearly went ahead through an El-Hadji Diouf volley from 12 yards that was straight at Friedel.

The home side grew into the game as the half progressed, and on 25 minutes they were given the chance to go ahead when Clattenburg awarded a harsh penalty for Steinsson's apparently well-timed challenge on Dunn on the left-hand side of the box.

McCarthy stepped up to fire his side in front and Blackburn continued to look threatening until Bolton seized the upper hand in the final minutes of the half, and with five minutes remaining until the break skipper Kevin Nolan sidefooted a shot against the crossbar after Diouf's toe-poke had been repelled by Friedel.

Blackburn held firm to go in with their lead intact at the break, and Roque Santa Cruz could have given them an even greater half-time cushion but put his near post header from Brett Emerton's cross wide from four yards.

Megson introduced loan signing Gregorz Rasiak at half-time and the Pole thought he'd equalised minutes after his introduction, only for his kneed effort to be correctly chalked off for offside.

But the visitors weren't to be denied, and a minute later they drew level when Davies slammed home at the back post after his attempted volley from a deep free-kick was diverted back into his path.

The equaliser rattled the home side and Cahill drew a smart save from the Blackburn keeper after being given time to bring down Ivan Campo's deep free-kick inside the box.

But Blackburn took the lead again five minutes later when Cahill toppled Dunn with an ill-advised tackle from behind, and McCarthy crashed the resulting penalty into the top-left corner.

Bolton responded with a flurry of high balls into the Blackburn box, before Bentley extended the home side's lead by nodding home Dunn's deflected left-wing cross at the back post.

The Trotters had a strong penalty appeal turned down when Rasiak's header struck Samba on the arm from close-range and Friedel then produced a commanding save to deny Ricardo Gardner after a quick free-kick caught Blackburn unawares.

Rovers substitute Jason Roberts squared for Pedersen to get his name on the score-sheet in the fourth minute of injury time, sealing a win that moves Blackburn up to ninth and keeps Bolton just two places above the relegation trapdoor.

Tom Williams / Eurosport