DACK ATTACK DOWNS THE TROTTERS
BRADLEY Dack scored the only goal as Blackburn beat derby rivals Bolton to lift themselves towards the play-off zone.
Dack struck his eighth of a prolific campaign so far after 22 minutes as Bolton slipped to back-to-back defeats.
But Rovers had to survive a late scare when referee Darren Bond appeared to award a penalty for a push on substitute Christian Doidge.
However, a linesman’s flag raised for offside against Doidge overturned the original decision, much to the home side’s anger and dismay.
Bolton had won the previous six home derbies with Rovers but couldn’t recover after falling behind to Dack’s latest goal.
And they paid the penalty for missing chances in the opening 45 minutes. Wanderers certainly could have been level at half-time but for a brace of fine saves from David Raya, as well as a goalline clearance.
Rovers dominated early pressure but didn’t trouble Remi Matthews, who was again deputising for injured Ben Alnwick.
And it was Phil Parkinson’s side who fashioned the first chance after Dack fouled Joe Williams on the edge of the Blackburn penalty area.
Josh Magennis fired in a right foot free-kick from 20 yards, but the wall did its job at the expense of a corner.
Five minutes later Blackburn took the lead.
Matthews saved Harrison Reed’s first shot, a follow-up effort was then blocked by David Wheater, before Dack pounced to fire home left-footed from ten yards.
Bolton’s response was excellent with Spaniard Raya diving to his left to push away Will Buckley’s right foot curling effort from the edge of the penalty area.
Raya was called into action again as he produced an even better stop from Erhun Oztumer’s corner, tipping away Magennis’s powerful header.
The Trotters continued to press and nearly levelled three minutes before the break. Magennis muscled his marker aside to head Oztumer’s corner goalwards, only for Charlie Mulgrew to clear off the line.
In the closing stages of the first half there was still time for Derrick Williams to be booked for a crude challenge on Craig Noone, scorer of Wanderers’ winner in their last home game against Derby.
Yanic Wildschut was introduced for Buckley at the start of the second half as Wanderers tried to force their way back into contention.
Magennis was shown the game’s second yellow card before Tony Mowbray made a double change, taking off Jack Rodwell and Joe Rothwell for Richie Smallwood and Corry Evans
For all their possession, Bolton struggled to create any more opportunities. Harrison Reed was yellow-carded for time wasting while substitute Wildschut finally tested Raya. Another substitute, Adam Armstrong, might have eased away nerves with Rovers’ only chance of the second half, but Matthews saved low down.
Then came the game’s big talking point with Doidge nudged in the back as he challenged for the ball. But within moments Bolton’s joy turned to frustration as referee Bond awarded Rovers a free-kick instead of a home penalty.