ROVERS put daylight between themselves and the relegation zone with a much needed win against Bolton Wanderers at the Reebok today.

Paul Dickov's stunning sixth minute strike was enough to earn Rovers all three vital points, their first win over Sam Allardyce's side since both sides returned to the Premiership.

Mark Hughes brought back Jay Bothroyd to the starting eleven after he missed the Boxing Day clash against Newcastle with a thigh strain. His return was shortlived due to a recurrence of the injury, but there was time for him to play a vital role in the only goal of the game.

With just six minutes on the clock, Nils-Eric Johansson launched a long ball upfield, Bothroyd headed on for Steven Reid to chest into the path of the onrushing Paul Dickov before the Scot unleashed an unstoppable volley past the outstretched hand of Jussi Jaaskelainen and into the back of the net.

Against Newcastle two days earlier Mark Hughes' side had started slowly, but there was certainly no sign of tired legs for the rejuvenated Rovers as the ran Bolton ragged in an impressive opening.

In fact Rovers could have taken the lead with just ninety seconds on the clock, Bothroyd stealing round the back of the static Bolton defence, only to be denied by the legs of the 'keeper.

Bolton's only threat came from free kicks and the long throws of Jay Jay Okocha, but Rovers' defence has improved under Hughes and they withstood everything that Bolton could throw at them.

With Ferguson and Flitcroft battling like terriers in midfield, Bolton weren't given a moment's peace and couldn't get into the game. Stead came on to replace the injured Bothroyd after 25 minutes, and immediately got into the action. Garry Flitcroft floated a ball over from the right, and the Rovers striker rose to head it goalwards, but the luck isn't with Stead this season and his saw his header crash back off the cross bar.

On the stroke of half-time Bolton almost snatched an unlikely equaliser, Henrik Pedersen just failing to connect from El Hadji Diouf's cross.

Bolton were booed off at half-time and were no doubt given a roasting by Allardyce in the dressing room at the break as the home side came out with renewed vigour at the start of the second half.

It was a 'backs to the wall' job for Rovers as they defended like their lives depended on it, with each member of the back four outstanding.

There was very little in the way of clear cut chances for either side in the second half, as the game became littered with fouls, free kicks and yellow cards.

Kevin Davies was Bolton's biggest threat, but he skied an effort from the edge of the area from Diouf's cross. As for Diouf, well his antics throughout the game infuriated both sets of fans, on at least three occasions the Senegal striker through himself theatrically to the ground looking for a decision, on each occasion Rob Styles waved away any claims that he had.

Half chances continued to be created at both ends, with the Bolton defence looking decidedly jittery everytime Rovers attacked, but it wasn't until the 89th minute that Rovers had a meaningful shot on goal.

A lovely flowing move down the right saw Ferguson release Dickov, his centre went to Stead before he in-turn played it to his left and to Steven Reid, but his finish was poor, putting the shot wide of Jaaskelainen's left hand post.

And so into extra time, for the last two season's it was Rovers who scored late goals with the clock running down, thankfully there was no repeat, and when the referee blew the final whistle, it was the side in red who were celebrating a vital victory.

The win sees Rovers rise to 15th in the league table, and Mark Hughes' men can go into 2005 with relish.

BOLTON: Jaaskelainen, Hunt, N'Gotty, Jaidi, Gardner, Diouf, Okocha, Speed (sub Hierro 72 mins), Giannakopoulos (sub Ferdinand 76 mins), Davies, Pedersen (sub Vaz Te 54 mins). Subs: Poole, Ferdinand, Barness.

ROVERS: Friedel, Neill, Todd, Johansson, Matteo, Emerton, Flitcroft, Ferguson, Reid, Bothroyd (sub Stead 25 mins), Dickov. Subs: Enckelman, McEveley, Gallagher, Thompson.

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