Rovers revive Euro push

McCarthy: Penalty brace

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Blackburn reinvigorated their pursuit of a place in Europe as Benni McCarthy struck twice from the penalty spot to help earn a 4-1 victory over relegation threatened Bolton at Ewood Park.

Rovers move up to ninth place in the Premier League after securing the hard-fought victory, while Bolton - who will feel the result flattered their Lancashire rivals - remain 16th and just three points off the drop zone.

On 25 minutes referee Mark Clattenburg controversially adjudged Bolton defender Gretar Steinsson to have brought down David Dunn inside the 18-yard area and Rovers forward McCarthy slotted straight down the middle for his seventh league goal of the season.

Bolton then emerged a different side after the interval and dominated proceedings and on 50 minutes Kevin Davies, who spent two years as a Blackburn player, showed too much strength for full-back Stephen Warnock at the far post to equalise from an Ivan Campo cross.

However, 17 minutes later Blackburn - who had not won in four games - were awarded their second penalty as Gary Cahill chopped down Dunn and McCarthy again made no mistake as he powerfully converted.

Shell shocked

And with Bolton still slightly shell shocked, Blackburn added a third as David Bentley bravely met a 71st minute Dunn cross to head past goalkeeper Jussi Jaaskelainen.

Morten Pedersen made sure of the points in stoppage time as he timed his run to perfection to turn home a centre from substitute Jason Roberts.

The home side were almost in front inside the opening minute when a half-clearance fell to the impressive Dunn 20 yards from goal and the midfielder's low volley was well saved by Jaaskelainen.

But Bolton came even closer to going ahead in the 11th minute when Campo's long throw from the right was flicked on in the box by Davies to El Hadji Diouf, whose overhead kick from eight yards was saved by Brad Friedel.

Roque Santa Cruz, who had a quiet afternoon, was then denied by a piece of excellent defending from Andy O'Brien before Dunn controversially won Rovers' first spot-kick after Steinsson, who appeared to get a toe to the ball, was adjudged to have fouled.

Punish

McCarthy stepped up to caress the ball low and straight down the middle to put Rovers in front.

Blackburn, though, were almost punished moments later when Christopher Samba's error played in Diouf, whose shot was saved by Friedel and Kevin Nolan hit the rebound against the bar.

A minute from the break Rovers had another chance when Brett Emerton's cross from the left found the head of Santa Cruz in front of goal but the striker's effort was inches wide.

Bolton manager Gary Megson made an attacking change at half-time when Gregorz Rasiak replaced Danny Guthrie, and within three minutes the big striker bundled home a Davies cross from close-range but was ruled offside.

And one minute later the visitors drew level when a long Campo free-kick fell to Davies on the edge of the six-yard box, and he fired a low shot past Friedel at the second attempt.

Rampant visitors

The visitors were rampant, and almost took the lead three minutes later when the impressive Nolan burst through the home defence and lashed a fine effort which was well saved by Friedel.

But Rovers were given the chance to retake their lead in the 65th minute when Cahill inexplicably hacked down Dunn in an unthreatening position just inside the Bolton box.

Referee Clattenberg had no option but to point to the spot a second time and McCarthy once rammed his second spot-kick straight down the middle to give the home side a scarcely deserved advantage.

Five minutes later Rovers turned the game on its head when Dunn delivered a precise cross from the left and Bentley rose at the far post to nod in the home side's third.

And to add insult to injury for Bolton, Rovers grabbed a fourth deep into injury time when Roberts crossed from the right and Pedersen stole in to sidefoot home the simplest of chances.