The referee draws an excitng second half to a close with Blackburn coming out on top in this Lancashire derby.

Blackburn look to run down the clock with Matt Derbyshire coming onto the field in place of a tired Santa Cruz.

The fourth official holds up the board and indicates a minimum of THREE additional minutes at the end of this second half.

ROBERTS breaks forward from his own half before getting into the Bolton box - riding three strong challenges in the process - and slides his shot into the bottom corner via a deflection.

Samba picks up the third yellow of the afternoon following a challenge on Davies but the referee could have kept his cards in his pocket on this occasion.

Roberts uses his strength to shake off the challenge of the Bolton defence and pulls the trigger but Michalik has raced back to make a goal saving block.

The corner comes in from Pedersen but it really is poor and doesn't even beat the first man.

Bentley now has a chance from a free kick, he hits it with great power and bend but Jaaskelainen dives across his area to palm the ball away.

Dunn fancies a shot for himself from 20 yards out and flashes one in but his angles are all out and the ball sails over the bar.

Khizanishvili curls in a great cross for a team-mate if they want it but his colleagues aren't on the same wave-length leaving Jaaskelainen with a simple catch in the centre of his own area.

Roberts has made himself available on the right and receives the ball, he crosses in deep for a man at the back but his ball is too deep and sails out for a goal kick.

Blackburn boss Mark Hughes rings the changes bringing off McCarthy - who is stunned by the decision - with Jason Roberts coming on for the South African.

Cohen comes off to be replaced by Christian Wilhelmsson.

Cohen goes in hard on Reid and picks up a yellow card due to numerous fouls today.

Nolan gets forward and lets off a cracker of a shot which flies yards wide of Friedel's left hand post.

Ooijer's 50th league game in England comes to an end as he makes way for Zurab Khizanishvili.

McCarthy sends the ball across the box for Gamst Pedersen and the winger connects well with the ball but his shot is sent inches wide of the far post from close range, the Blackburn man's search for a first league goal for 11 months goes on.

Stelios Giannakopoulos breaks free of the offside trap and is through on goal but belatedly the fourth official holds up the flag, much to the dissmay of the Bolton players and fans alike.

The game is bogged down in the middle of the park right now, both teams are working really hard to turn the screw on each other and it looks as though it will take a moment of madness to win this game.

The second half has been a much livelier affair and it is now Blackburn who look the more likely to take all three points from this Lancashire derby.

Gamst Pedersen cuts inside from the left and then turns his man once more, making room for the shot, unfortunately his effort is sent into the side netting.

The cross is sent in by Danny Guthrie and Dunn has to clear the ball but his header nearly lands in his own goal, clipping the top of the net and going out for a corner.

Bolton loook to make a change and it is a rather unhappy Campo who makes way for Gavin McCann to enter the fray.

A corner is sent in from the right hand side and Samba rises highest following an error in judegment from Jaaskelainen and nods the ball into the back of the net.

Samba fires off a shot from distance which was never going to test the golakeeper and sails into the fans behind the goal.

A defensive error lets Santa Cruz in on goal, the striker uses the outside of his foot to get a shot off but Jaaskelainen gets down brilliantly to parry the ball away.

Santa Cruz gets himself into a shooting position and lets off a shot but it is hit straight at Jaaskelainen.

Cohen tries to get on the end of a long ball but the debutant cannot connect and Firedel manages to pick up the pieces.

The second half gets underway and immediately Blackburn look to get amongst the Bolton men.

The referee draws the half to a close but in fairness it has been an utterly uninterseting first half.

Campo picks up a yellow card for a soft challenge on Reid.

From 15 yards out NOLAN sends a volley into the top corner to give Bolton the lead froma deep cross by Joey O'Obrian.

Bolton have a chance to take a late lead in the first half through a Campo free kick but the former Madrid man fires wide.

Bolton appear to be missing the presence of Anelka after his move to Chelsea but as of yet Blackburn have failed to test the home side themselves.

Steven Reid fires in a free kick along the floor but there is no power in the shot and is easy for Jaaskelainen to collect.

Morten Gamst Pedersen clips in a cross for McCarthy but his ball is overhit and lands into the arms of Jaaskelainen.

The corner is whipped in by Kevin Nolan but there is no challenge for the ball and Friedel has a easy job just to pluck the ball out of the air.

Davies looks ominous as he works his way into the box but Nelsen somehow manages to get in behind the striker and scoop the ball out for a corner.

Bentley swings in a corner but Campo is in the right place to head the ball out.

Dunn shows neat feet to get away from Cohen and swings in a cross which results in a goal-line scramble but Bolton somehow manage to clear the danger.

The game really hasn't sparked into life just as yet as both teams struggle to claim a foothold on the game.

McCarthy finds a bit of space for the acrobatics but his overhead doesn't come off and the ball is fired wide.

Warnock swings in a cross which but Lubomir Michalik clears the danger.

Bentley fires in a free-kick but his effort is hit high and wide.

David Dunn lofts in a ball to the back post for Santa Cruz but Joey O'Brian is there to clear the ball.

Morten Gamst Pedersen bends in a cross looking for Santa Cruz but Jaaskelainen comes out well to collect.

Campo fires in a shot from distance but his effort is hit high and wide of Friedel's goal.

Davies charges down on Friedel who was hoping to let the ball run out for a goal kick but the American is forced into a save.

Benni McCarthy looks up and drifts a ball out wide to his strike partner Roque Santa Cruz but the latter cannot control the pass.

Bentley moves forward with the ball aiming to cut inside which he does, hitting a shot along the floor but Jussi Jaaskelainen can pick the ball up with ease.

Ryan Nelsen is put under pressure at the back as Kevin Davies closes the defender down but the New Zealand international clears the ball.

Tamir Cohen cynically brings down David Bentley but the referee runs over and decides against a booking on this occasion.

Appeals for a hand ball inside the box from Stephen Warnock but Mike Dean waves the calls away.

The visitors break away down the right but Bolton manage to clear the ball as Rovers move the ball towards the box.

Ivan Campo swings in a free-kick looking for the head of Kevin Davies but Christopher Samba gets his head in the way of the cross.

Rovers get the game underway, they will be kicking left to right in this first half.

The referee this afternoon is Mike Dean, he has shown five red and 66 yellow cards in 14 games this season.

Blackburn are looking for their 50th League victory over Bolton today and a third League victory on the bouce following the diisapointment of defeat against Coventry last weekend.

Bolton are hoping to secure a fifth straight home league victory and their first Premier League victory over Blackburn since 1998.

Blackburn XI: Friedel, Ooijer, Samba, Nelsen, Warnock, Bentley, Dunn, Reid, Pedersen, McCarthy, Santa Cruz.

Bolton XI: Jaaskelainen, J. O'Brien, A. O'Brien, Michalik, Gardner, Guthrie, Nolan, Campo, Cohen, Giannakopoulos, Davies.