Rovers secure derby victory

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

David Dunn controversially won Rovers' first spot-kick after Gretar Steinsson was harshly adjudged to have fouled and McCarthy stepped up to fire the ball low and straight down the middle to put Rovers in front.

But the scores were almost levelled moments later when Christopher Samba's set up Diouf, whose shot was saved low by Friedel but rebounded to the feet of Kevin Nolan who lofted his effort against the bar.

The visitors drew level when a long Matthew Taylor 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.

But Rovers were given the chance to retake their lead when Gary Cahill inexplicably hacked down Dunn in the 65th minute.

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

Five minutes later Rovers were in front when Dunn delivered a precise cross from the left and David Bentley rose at the far post to nod the home side's third goal, and to add insult to injury for Bolton,

Rovers grabbed a fourth deep into injury time when substitute Jason Roberts crossed from the left and Morten Gamst Pedersen stole in to sidefoot home the simplest of chances.