ALL the elements were in place for the perfect storm and, when the ball dropped to who else but Emile Heskey with three minutes of normal time remaining, it appeared the heavens were ready to open on Blackburn Rovers boss Gary Bowyer.

With the goal at his mercy, the Bolton Wanderers striker should have registered his 14th career goal against Rovers and settled a match that demonstrated why both sides are yet to win this season.

But, somehow, Shane Duffy managed to get back on to the line in time to hack the ball away to safety.

Duffy’s incredible piece of defending ensured that Rovers took a point and ensured that the pressure on their manager, if not eased, did not significantly increase.

The talk in football circles before Friday night’s crunch derby clash was that Bowyer was under pressure despite his club’s rebuttal the previous weekend of a national newspaper report that stated he had been sacked.

Ultimately any decision over his future will be made by Rovers’ owners Venky’s.

And there really is no second guessing what they may or may not do.

That once again was made abundantly clear after the 1-0 loss to Brighton & Hove Albion when Ewood Park-based officials were forced to contact Venky’s in India just to clarify that Bowyer was indeed still in charge.

A 0-0 draw with a poor and toothless Bolton team will have done little to strengthen the 44-year-old’s position.

But if Venky’s are or were to consider a change, then why now?

Yes three points from a possible 15 from what has hardly been the most daunting of starts to the season is not good enough.

But we are only five league games in and the seven signings Venky’s have given Bowyer the green light to make do need more time to bed in.

And there is no question the club’s Financial Fair Play embargo has made an already difficult job harder.

That said Bowyer has been able to boost his squad, albeit belatedly, and it was his decision to start with four of his new boys on the bench against Bolton, even though it is clear that players like Jason Lowe and Ben Marshall, on current form, are not doing enough to justify a starting place.

Bowyer has openly admitted he needs a victory, just like any other manager who has gone six matches without one.

He can take heart from the fact that his players are clearly behind him. There was no questioning their commitment on Friday night, or against Cardiff City, Brighton, Huddersfield Town and Wolves before that.

And Rovers can have no complaints about the support they are receiving from the stands.

Lancashire Telegraph:

The blue and white army got right behind their side on Friday as they have done in every game so far this season apart from the dreadful Capital One Cup defeat to Shrewsbury Town when, let’s face it, they were completely within their rights to vent their anger.

But the patience of more and more supporters will be stretched – and there were only 12,349 home fans in attendance against Bolton – the longer they go without seeing a win.

Rovers now have two weeks to regroup, familiarise themselves with each other, and get organised for a challenging September schedule.

First things first they have to come through tomorrow’s transfer deadline day unscathed.

But if they do, come Craven Cottage on September 13, we need to see an immediate improvement in results.