Roberts strike gives Rovers win
Jason Roberts scored a last-minute goal for Blackburn
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Sunday, 13, Jan 2008 06:37
An inspired run from substitute Jason Roberts saw Blackburn Rovers snatch three points at Bolton in a largely pedestrian 2-1 win at the Reebok Stadium.
Both sides had chances at the end of the match to seize a winner but it was Roberts' individual goal which proved decisive.
He started from within his own half and finished with a shot from the edge of the area, leaving Bolton facing a relegation tussle with three others on 20 points.
Earlier brilliance from Kevin Nolan and an opportunistic touch from Christopher Samba had proved bright points in an otherwise scrappy and uninspiring game.
The first half was bereft of interest with the teams' midfield exchanges cancelling each other out until skipper Nolan's perfectly timed twisting volley past Brad Friedel on 45 minutes.
Until then the highlight had been a dubious challenge from Israeli international Tamir Cohen, whose Premier League debut nearly ended on three minutes after he hacked down David Bentley.
He survived without a booking until midway through the second half, prompting his swift substitution, in a match plagued by free kicks and disrupted play.
Samba's equaliser after the resumption was as much the fruit of Jussi Jaaskelainen's indecision as his own competence. The Bolton shot-stopper was stuck in no-man's land after a too-late attempt to collect a ball, allowing Samba to head the ball down into the back of the net.
With the scores level the match began to come alive in the final 15 minutes. Morten Gamst Pedersen, Nolan and Bentley all had chances to put their teams in front.
But it was Roberts who created the winner, showing his pace and strength to push Blackburn up to eighth in the Premier League table.