MICHAEL Appleton has praised his Blackburn Rovers side this evening despite their last gasp 1-0 defeat at Bolton.

The Rovers boss saw former Burnley winger Chris Eagles silence the away fans' taunts with an injury-time winner, but insisted he was content with his sides' performance.

He said; "It is a sickener. To lose the goal in the manner we did and the way we did was disappointing.

"But, and it is a big but, I was absolutely delighted with the players tonight. I thought the effort, and desire was fantastic. It is pretty much everything I am about as a person, never mind as a manager.

"When I go into something I go into whole heartedly and my players did exactly the same tonight.

"I would be suprised if any Blackburn fans who turned up tonight disagree with me. Going into the latter stages I really thought we could nick it and created three of four good opportunities.

"But it wasn't to be. They have had a run of wins and are having a purple patch."