Blackburn Rovers' impressive home form continued after a convincing 3-0 win over local rivals Bolton Wanderers.
Kalinic sets hosts on their way as Roberts and Givet also score
Blackburn Rovers' impressive home form continued as a convincing 3-0 win over local rivals Bolton Wanderers edged Sam Allardyce's side closer to securing their Premier League status.
Croatian striker Nikola Kalinic set Rovers on their way with the opening goal just before half-time before Jason Roberts and Gael Givet netted in the second period to provide Allardyce with three points against his former club.
Rovers were the better team throughout the game and saw Morten Gamst Pedersen's early throw-in fly straight into the net before Keith Andrews' header was cleared off the line and Kalinic's volley from the rebound came back off the post.
Matt Taylor fired Bolton's best chance straight at Paul Robinson on 41 minutes and, moments later, Rovers were in front when Pedersen nodded Junior Hoilett's pass into the path of Kalinic, whose drilled shot took a slight deflection on its way past Jussi Jaaskelainen.
The Bolton keeper then proceeded to keep the home side at bay as heavy snow swept through Ewood Park in the second half before he was finally beaten again in the 72nd minute.
Ricardo Gardner's attempted clearance only put Bolton under further pressure and substitute Roberts steered his shot past Jaaskelainen after the ball had been lofted back into the box.
Blackburn, who have lost just twice at home all season in the league, completed a comfortable win six minutes from time when Givet stole in ahead of his marker to glance El Hadji Diouf's cross from the left inside the far post.
Threatened
Blackburn threatened early on through Pedersen's long throws and, after two were repelled, a third sailed into the net untouched. Despite raucous cheers from the home faithful, play restarted with a goal-kick and the score at 0-0.
Taylor's threatening cross required a fine defensive header from Givet but Chung-Yong Lee's poor corner was headed away by the stooping first man, Andrews.
Taylor's foul on Michel Salgado saw play stopped before Johan Elmander netted - and Muamba then thwarted the best Rovers chance thus far.
Andrews met a dangerous corner and Muamba cleared his header off the line before also diverting Kalinic's overhead kick onto the post and away to safety.
Jaaskelainen had to be quickly out of his area to prevent Hoilett reaching Salgado's dangerous through-ball and he was soon off limits again, scrambling the ball back into his area and diving on it with Kalinic in hot pursuit.
Gardner and Ryan Nelsen went off for treatment following a collision in which the home captain came off worst, and Rovers were then awarded a dangerous free-kick for full-back Paul Robinson's foul on Kalinic. Pedersen curled narrowly over.
Nelsen's injury got the better of him and he was replaced by Vince Grella, Andrews slotting in at centre-half.
Rovers keeper Paul Robinson made a good save to keep out Taylor's drive - and was rewarded as his side took a half-time lead.
Excellent work
Excellent work from Hoilett kept a breakaway move going and Pedersen squared unselfishly for Kalinic to rifle home, Jaaskelainen unable to keep the ball out despite getting a touch on it.
Robinson preserved his side's lead when he was quickly off his line to smother the ball as Gardner ran clear on goal.
And opposite number Jaaskelainen also had to be at his best to keep out Hoilett's point-blank diving header from Pedersen's cross.
Bolton were denied again when Lee's shot on the turn drew a fine diving save from Robinson.
Boss Owen Coyle stepped up his side's search for an equaliser by introducing Vladimir Weiss and Mark Davies for Taylor and Muamba, while Rovers withdrew the impressive Hoilett in favour of striker Roberts.
Kalinic got no support from referee Lee Probert, who had replaced Chris Foy at half-time, when toppling over last defender Robinson, and on-loan Manchester City youngster Weiss made a vital interception when a Rovers break threatened to put Pedersen through on goal.
As the snow grew heavier, Ivan Klasnic was introduced for Elmander and immediately sent a tame free-kick into Robinson's grasp.
Steven Nzonzi's towering header from a Pedersen corner forced Jaaskelainen into a superb save but it was only a temporary reprieve for Bolton.
Pedersen's second corner was not convincingly cleared and Givet hooked it back into the box for Roberts to finish tamely through the hands of the keeper.
Gretar Steinsson was booked for flattening Kalinic and Pedersen's fierce low free-kick somehow eluded both the Croatian and Diouf with only a touch needed.
But Rovers were able to add a third with six minutes remaining when Diouf's free-kick was headed in by Givet for the Frenchman's first goal at Ewood Park.
Roberts squandered a good late chance and Rovers failed to make the most of Jaaskelainen's subsequent dreadful goal-kick, but it was of no consequence.
| Blackburn Rovers |
Team Statistics |
Bolton Wanderers |
| 3 |
Goals |
0 |
| 1 |
1st Half Goals |
0 |
| 7 |
Shots on Target |
5 |
| 4 |
Shots off Target |
3 |
| 2 |
Blocked Shots |
3 |
| 8 |
Corners |
3 |
| 16 |
Fouls |
12 |
| 4 |
Offsides |
2 |
| 0 |
Yellow Cards |
1 |
| 0 |
Red Cards |
0 |
| 55 |
Passing Success |
63.5 |
| 20 |
Tackles |
25 |
| 55 |
Tackles Success |
68 |
| 39.9 |
Possession |
60.1 |
| 41.6 |
Territorial Advantage |
58.4 |
|
