Premier League: Bolton 2 Blackburn 1

Bolton pulled themselves out of the relegation zone with a crucial 2-1 win at home to fellow strugglers Blackburn Rovers.

After a stale opening half-hour at the Reebok Stadium, the game sprung into life when David Wheater scored two headers for the home team in a seven-minute salvo.

Blackburn rarely threatened and were unable to mount a comeback, despite pulling back an early second-half goal through Steven N’Zonzi.

This was Bolton’s return to Premier League action after the shock cardiac arrest of Fabrice Muamba in last Saturday’s FA Cup tie against Tottenham Hotspur. The unfortunate circumstances meant that Bolton were left with a game in hand against their relegation rivals after they postponed the match against Aston Villa on Tuesday evening.

Blackburn’s recent run of form has seen them rise from the relegation zone and establish a three-point cushion between themselves and the drop. Yet a win for either team would prove invaluable to their survival hopes.

Martin Petrov caused a few problems early for Blackburn down the left, and his strong run in the 18th minute saw him get to the byline and produce a whipped cross into the box, which flew just over the head of Rio Miyaichi at the far post.

One of Blackburn’s few forays forward saw Junior Hoilett denied a penalty in the 22nd minute after the young Canadian charged into the area, only to be sandwiched between two Bolton defenders.

But it was the Trotters who broke the deadlock in the 28th minute. A Bolton corner from the left was poorly defended by Blackburn and the ball re-found the corner-taker Petrov. He was then able to whip in a ball which fell into the path of Wheater who emphatically headed into the bottom corner.

The home team were obviously buoyed by the goal, and continued to apply pressure to the Blackburn goal.

Almost immediately, Blackburn stormed up the other end and came close to equalising. A well-measured cross from Marcus Olssen was met by Yakubu who had risen well and directed his header just wide of the left hand upright.

The game had really started to liven up as the two teams committed to attack. But it was still Bolton who were on top, the impressive Petrov firing in a low shot from just outside the area which was well saved by Paul Robinson to his left.

Yet Bolton were more successful with the resulting corner. Miyaichi found Wheater after his in-swinging corner was missed by a melee of defenders, allowing the 25-year-old to add to his goal tally by powering a header past Robinson into the centre of the net.

The second half started much like the end of the first, and on the 47th minute Miyaichi cut in from the right and proceeded on a mazy run towards the Blackburn area only for him to fire a shot wildly over the bar.

Just a minute later, some fantastic wing play by Petrov saw him maraud down the left and put in a perfect cross for David Ngog. However, the Frenchman was unable to adjust his body and only managed to direct the resulting header over the bar when he probably should have hit the target.

Yet against the run of play, Blackburn halved the deficit on the 55th minute after a corner from the right was met by Stephen N’Zonzi, who beat his marker at the near post and managed to flick a header past Adam Bogdan.

Bolton seemed unnerved by the goal, though, and they should have scored a third just two minutes later. Miyaichi managed to pick out Mark Davies with a floated cross from the right, but he headed glaringly wide of the target from eight yards out.

Bolton continued to pile on the pressure and in the 66th minute Petrov sliced horribly wide with his weaker foot after Davies beat the left full-back and squared the ball to the Bulgarian.

Ivan Klasnic came on for Ngog as Bolton searched for another goal to establish their lead, but it was Blackburn who threatened next. A low ball into the box from Hoilett found Yakubu bravely sliding in under pressure, but he steered the ball wide of the right-hand upright.

Despite some late pressure from the Blackburn front-line, including a snatched header by Yakubu on the 89th minute, Bolton defended solidly and were able to see out the victory.