Bolton end winless run against Blackburn

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28 Dec 2015

By Steve Marshall BSports

Gary Madine scored the only goal as Bolton Wanderers ended a run of 17 games without a win by beating Blackburn Rovers in the Championship.

The striker volleyed in following Dean Moxey's long throw 13 minutes from time to earn Neil Lennon's side only their second league victory of the season.

Madine had earlier seen a shot cleared off the line by Marcus Olsson after Zach Clough hit the post.

Tom Lawrence saw a deflected shot hit the post for Blackburn late on.

Despite that late scare, Bolton held on to claim their first victory since beating Wolves 2-1 on 12 September and, in the process, earn a sixth successive home win over their Lancashire rivals.

It also provided a welcome boost to a club that is facing a winding-up petition from Revenue & Customs and which has been placed under a transfer embargo.

Bolton remain bottom of the table going into the new year, but closed the gap on fourth-from bottom Rotherham, who face Fulham on Tuesday, to four points.

The home side should have been in front by half-time but, after Clough turned Moxey's cross against the post, Madine saw his follow-up shot blocked by Olsson.

Blackburn, who have now lost back-to-back games, saw Shane Duffy head wide after the break and were denied a late equaliser when Lawrence's goalbound shot deflected onto the post and back into the arms of home keeper Ben Amos.

Bolton boss Neil Lennon:

"It's been a long time coming. I thought we were good value for the win.

"We had to withstand a little bit of pressure and we got a little bit of luck at the end. We deserved that luck, we haven't any this season whatsoever.

"It's nice to see people walking out of the ground with a smile on their face. It was an important win and important to get a reaction after such a poor performance on Saturday."

Blackburn manager Paul Lambert:

"I knew at the time the Middlesbrough game was off that it was going to have an adverse reaction to us because people have that mindset.

"You're better playing so everyone else is at the same level. I knew the Middlesbrough game being off was a dangerous thing for us - being fresh never really entered my brain.

"We just never did enough to win the game. Since I've been here that's the most disappointing performance."

Bolton's victory over Blackburn was only the 15th win of Neil Lennon's reign as manager

Former Bolton striker Dean Holdsworth (centre), whose consortium has been linked with a takeover of the club, watched his old side beat Blackburn

Lineup, Bookings (7) & Substitutions (3)

Bolton Wanderers

01 Amos
45 Holding
02 Gouano
31 Wheater
03 Moxey Booked
06 Vela Booked
21 Pratley Booked
07 Feeney
10 Clough
16 Davies Booked
14 Madine

Substitutes

08 Spearing
13 Rachubka
18 Danns
20 Casado
22 Wellington
23 Dobbie
25 Wilson

Blackburn Rovers

30 Steele
02 Henley (Taylor - 88' )
22 Duffy Booked
05 Hanley
14 Olsson Booked
32 Conway
21 Akpan Booked
23 Guthrie
10 Marshall
08 Koita (Delfouneso - 45' )
11 Rhodes (Lawrence - 77' )

Substitutes

03 Spurr
04 Kilgallon
07 Delfouneso
13 Eastwood
16 Lawrence
17 Williamson
19 Taylor

Ref: Jonathan Moss

Att: 18,048

Match Stats

Possession 51 49

Shots

12 15

On target

3 1

Corners

2 7

Fouls

14 16

Live Text Commentary

Full time

Full Time Match ends, Bolton Wanderers 1, Blackburn Rovers 0.

90:00 +5:04 Full time

Full Time Second Half ends, Bolton Wanderers 1, Blackburn Rovers 0.

90:00 +3:46 Booking

Booking Markus Olsson (Blackburn Rovers) is shown the yellow card for a bad foul.

90:00 +3:40

Foul by Markus Olsson (Blackburn Rovers).

90:00 +3:40

Liam Feeney (Bolton Wanderers) wins a free kick in the defensive half.

90:00 +1:39 Booking

Booking Darren Pratley (Bolton Wanderers) is shown the yellow card.

90:00 +0:28

Attempt blocked. Tom Lawrence (Blackburn Rovers) right footed shot from the centre of the box is blocked. Assisted by Chris Taylor.

88:24

Gary Madine (Bolton Wanderers) wins a free kick in the defensive half.

88:24

Foul by Ben Marshall (Blackburn Rovers).

87:31 Substitution

Substitution Substitution, Blackburn Rovers. Chris Taylor replaces Adam Henley.