Rhodes at the double in romp
Jordan Rhodes scored his second brace of the week as Blackburn saw off Bolton 4-1 in an enthralling Lancashire derby at Ewood Park.
Rovers had taken control with two goals in as many first-half minutes through David Dunn's composed finish and a well-taken third in a week by Rhodes before Alex Baptiste's emphatic strike reduced the deficit.
Corry Evans came on and scored a memorable first goal for Blackburn with an unstoppable volley 20 minutes from time and Rhodes put the icing on the cake by tapping home seven minutes from time, giving Rovers their first win over the Trotters in five attempts.
The defeat means it is the first time Wanderers have failed to win any of their first five league games since 1984.
Blackburn boss Gary Bowyer made one change to the side that hammered Barnsley last week, with new signing Ben Marshall coming in for Alan Judge.
Dougie Freedman made two changes to the Bolton team that lost against QPR, drafting in Darren Pratley and Tyrone Mears for Tim Ream and Marc Tierney.
Jermaine Beckford missed a golden opportunity early on when played through by striker partner David Ngog but his shot lacked conviction and Jake Kean saved easily.
Blackburn took a deserved lead after 27 minutes when Josh King had time and space to surge forward before feeding Dunn, who coolly rode three challenges before slotting home his first of the season.
And Rovers doubled their lead a minute later through Rhodes, who escaped the attentions of Zat Knight before sweeping a sweet half-volley past Adam Bogdan.
Bolton were shell-shocked and it almost got worse for the Trotters but for a wonderful save from Bogdan, who tipped a curling Marshall effort onto the post.
Bogdan was again called into action for the visitors after 42 minutes when Rhodes was allowed time and space to fire in a rasping shot from the edge of the area but the Hungarian palmed over the crossbar.
And that save proved crucial as Bolton pulled one back on the stroke of half-time through the unlikely source of Baptiste, who latched on to a Jay Spearing through ball before thundering home from 12 yards.
Bolton came out all guns blazing and went close after 51 minutes when Ngog surged forward on the break, twisting and turning to dummy two defenders but Todd Kane got back to clear his shot off the line.
The goal just before half-time revitalised Freedman's men and Spearing's deflected shot went just past the post after 62 minutes.
But Evans halted any talk of a fightback in the 70th minute with a stunning 20-yard volley that gave Bogdan no chance.
And Rovers put the exclamation mark on the win after 83 minutes when Kane burst forward and crossed for Rhodes for an easy finish.
Source: PA
