A battling display by the Rovers new boy

ROVERS' impressive start to 2005 came to a controversial end as El-Hadji Diouf condemned Rovers to a harsh defeat at Ewood Park this evening against their near rivals.

The Senegalese striker scored on the rebound after Brad Friedel had saved his initial spot-kick, but it was an award that shouldn't have been given as Friedel didn't touch the Bolton striker as he went down in the area. Whether Diouf should have been on the pitch to take the spot-kick is a moot point after he was seen to clearly elbow defender Andy Todd. Only a yellow card was issued.

Up until that point Rovers had been the better of the two sides, creating the better of the chances going forward, indeed it was the first time Friedel was called into action.

Mark Hughes gave a debut to Robbie Savage in the heart of midfield, and the Welsh international didn't disappoint with an all-action display that will no doubt endear him to the home fans, though it came as no surprise when Savage picked up a booking just 18 minutes into game, though he was lucky to escape with a warning after just forty seconds.

But it will be the lack of a threat up front that will cause the greater concern for the manager, as the partnership of Paul Gallagher and Jay Bothroyd up front posed little. Jon Stead and Jemal Johnson - for his first Premiership appearance - were introduced midway into the second half but were unable to create any meaningful chances. The suspended Paul Dickov was sorely missed.

In a first half that saw more cards issued than goal chances, it was Rovers who tested Bolton goalkeeper Jussi Jaaskelainen first, Morten Gamst Pedersen seeing his near post shot saved.

The Finnish international made an even better save five minutes later, Lucas Neill cutting in from the right to hit a well struck shot, Jaaskelainen diving full length to tip the ball around the post.

Alas that was about as good as it got, Rovers showed neat approach play with intelligent passing, whilst the visitors content to slow the game down and hit Rovers on the break.

The second half was more of the same, Bolton happy to sit back, soaking up pressure, with Rovers trying but failing to create any clear-cut chances.

There was more controversy when Kevin Nolan took down Robbie Savage with a two-footed over the top tackle, the England under 21 international was a very lucky boy to stay on the field, receiving just a yellow card, whilst Savage was fortunate to be able to play on.

Diouf goes past Friedel before falling down in the box

But the talking point will be undoubtedly be the penalty decision with fourteen minutes to go, Diouf took the ball around Matteo, Friedel rushed off his line to save, the striker took the ball around Brad and tripped himself up to fool the referee into giving the decision.

Friedel did superbly to dive to his left to save Diouf's spot-kick, but was unfortunate to see the rebound fall back to the striker for a simple tap-in. Moments later Sam Allardyce substituted the striker.

So Rovers failed to build on their excellent start to the second half of the season, they didn't really do enough to earn three points, but they certainly didn't deserve to lose to a goal like that.

ROVERS: Friedel, Neill, Todd, Mokoena, Matteo, Emerton, Savage, Thompson, M. Pedersen, Bothroyd (sub Johnson 62 mins), Gallagher (sub Stead 62 mins). Subs: Enckelman, Johansson, Reid.

BOLTON: Jaaskelainen, Hunt, N'Gotty, Ben Haim, Gardner, Campo, Speed, Nolan, Okocha (sub Davies 53 mins), Giannakopoulos (sub H, Pedersen 67 mins), Diouf (sub Fadiga 78 mins). Subs: Poole, Hierro.

Booked: Savage (Rovers), Diouf, Giannakopoulos, Nolan, Davies (Bolton)

Rovers World subscribers can get all the post match reaction and highlights from today's game on tomorrow's edition.