Blackburn Rovers 3 Bolton Wanderers 1 - Peter White's big match verdict

DERBY games are notorious for throwing up unlikely heroes ... and villains.

No question where Bolton midfielder Alan Thompson stood, sent off for a 23rd-minute assault on Jeff Kenna.

But a new hero was crowned too on an afternoon when the richly-colourful canvas painted by Blackburn Rovers in the first 20 minutes later paled into an anti-climactic grey.

Amazingly it almost turned into the deep black of despair as what should have been an easy win came within inches of slipping through their fingers.

But Damien Duff, whose quiet and modest off-the-pitch image contrasts sharply with the sublime, almost arrogant, skills he displays on it, left the abiding memory - of a talent and future performances to savour.

The young Irishman has to battle against international players to claim a place at club level.

But, in what was only his fourth Premiership start, Duff displayed all the ability that is going to take him to the very top of his profession.

Sub Jason Wilcox, who lost his place through suspension, went on to calmly score the third and clinching goal but will be under no illusions about the keenness of the competition after watching his clubmate from the bench. As for the broader picture, there are derby games . . . and derby games. This was a strange one, though there were still enough highlights for Rovers fans, such as Duff, the outstanding Billy McKinlay and returning Colin Hendry, to go home happy, if still a little dis-satisfied that the scoreline wasn't much more emphatic.

Pre-match forecasts suggested two teams going hell-for-leather, with referee Mike Riley all too ready to brandish his cards.

The referee didn't disappoint but Bolton did a 'Sonny Liston'. They were unwilling to climb off the stool and fight. You've seen more aggression from Des Barnes and Les Battersby in half an hour on a Friday night than Bolton showed in the first 20 minutes. That was certainly the case until Thompson suddenly suffered a severe case of the red mist and was dismissed for an awful challenge on Jeff Kenna. After Rovers' mauling in Manchester, it was their turn to dictate. Wanderers, before they went down to 10 men, stood off, gave Rovers the time and space to take them apart and could hardly complain when they did.

The only crazy thing was that, deep into stoppage time, the visitors could have sneaked away with a point that would have hugely flattered them.

There must be a lesson there for Rovers - to be more ruthless when so much in command.

It's not the first time a dismissal has changed a game and it certainly won't be the last.

The way Rovers had been playing until Thompson got his marching orders they would have been happy to let him stay on the field.

They were so superior to a tentative Wanderers side who accorded them the freedom of Ewood that a rout was on the cards. Kevin Gallacher forced a fine save from Keith Branagan after a lovely one-two with Chris Sutton but then Bolton simply stood and admired the handiwork as the Scot put Rovers ahead in the third minute.

Duff's right-wing corner saw a clutch of players rise unsuccessfully at the near post to meet it and Gallacher, handily placed in the six-yard box, had a simple task to turn it home.

Despite being under the cosh, Wanderers could have equalised in the sixth minute when Thompson - it just wasn't his day - headed wide of the far post with a good chance.

Rovers, however, were dictating play with some silky football and it was no surprise when the second goal arrived in the 20th minute.

McKinlay slid a pass down the right, Stuart Ripley brilliantly turned inside Mark Fish and the low, hard-driven cross to the far post was knocked over the line by the lurking Sutton.

It looked a question of how many until Bolton finally got in a 'meaningful' tackle. It was reckless and got its just desserts - a red card for the perpetrator Thompson. That seemed to be the signal for Rovers to take the professional view and decide that there were going to be no silly slip-ups and, rather than take risks, they simply remained in control.

As a result, it all became something of an anti-climax.

The under-occupied Tim Flowers made a good save from Nathan Blake right on half time but too many people seemed to be treading warily, especially after a ridiculous booking for Sutton.

Gallacher, Sutton and Duff could all have extended Rovers' lead in the first 17 minutes of the second half but, in one sense, it seemed too easy against a Bolton side who looked to have settled for damage limitation.

The edge that players have from a genuine contest had gone from Rovers but they were suddenly startled into action by a goal from Per Frandsen.

For once, the diligent Hendry and Stephane Henchoz were nowhere as Frandsen fired home from close range after Blake had done well to cut the ball back from the right.

It was just the sort of scenario Rovers didn't want in a game they should have coasted.

And, more than three minutes into stoppage time, came the moment of truth for Bolton.

Blake raced clear but shot woefully wide with a glorious chance. It should have put Wanderers level but it would have been a ludicrous scoreline if it had.

Reality was restored even deeper into added time when Lars Bohinen pulled the ball back from the right-hand bye-line and Wilcox raced in to steer it home from penalty spot range.

It was late in coming but it was no more than Rovers deserved even though they had fallen away from their earlier supreme standards.

Converted for the new archive on 14 July 2000. Some images and formatting may have been lost in the conversion.