Bolton Wanderers against Blackburn Rovers

Sir Nat Lofthouse watches on from the stands. I can't imagine he has been very impressed with Bolton's direct style this afternoon.

Bentley again causes concern in the Bolton penalty area when he clips a nice curling ball in towards Kuqi at the back post, though Jaaskelainen sees the ball behind.

Gardener does his best to try and inject some pace in to the game down the left wing, but Blackburn always seem to have an extra defender to cover.

A long throw is hurled in to the Blackburn penalty area, but Bolton only have a couple of men forward and the ball drifts out of play.

Oooh! Jussi Jaaskelainen comes a long way to collect a high ball, but doesn't get there. The ball drops to Neill, but his first-time shot is dragged well wide with the goalkeeper stranded.

Bentley sends over a good cross towards Kuqi inside the penalty area, but Ben Haim climbs high to head clear.

Bentley wins his side another corner, though Savage wastes the chance to put Bolton under pressure when he takes it short.

SUB: Okocha off, Hunt on. A defensive change from Allardyce, with Hunt moving to right back and Campo switching to a holding midfield role.

The corner causes a moment or two's panic inside the Bolton defence, but eventually the ball is cleared up to Borgetti, who does well to retain possession under pressure.

Bentley attempts to chip Jussi Jaaskelainen from 25 yards, and although the ball seems to be drifting over the bar, the goalkeeper palms it out for a corner.

Campo is pressurised by Bentley in to giving the ball away inside his own half, but Blackburn can't capitalise.

Bolton win a free-kick. Okocha rolls the ball in to the area for Diouf to flick on, but Gardener can't quite get on the end of it.

Blackburn will be happy with a point from this match, I'm sure. Bolton, I suspect, won't be as satisfied.

Campo attempts a ridiculous volley from 35 yards, but he doesn't catch it very well and the ball trickles wide. Allardyce isn't too impressed in the Bolton dugout.

Oooh! Campo gets in behind the Blackburn defence, but his low cross in to the penalty area is cleared by Nelsen.

SUB: Davies off, Borgetti on. The Mexican comes on to replace Davies at the head of the Bolton attack. The home fans haven't seen much of their new signing so far this season, and he'll be keen to impress.

Blackburn win a free-kick on the left-hand side of the box, but Savage's attempt to find Nelsen at the back post is too strong and the ball curls out for a goalkick.

Oooh! Reid robs Pedersen in a dangerous area, strikes a superb shot from the edge of the penalty box, but Jussi Jaaskelainen makes a great save.

Kuqi is the sub that has had the most impact on the game; he is pressurising N'Gotty and Ben Haim and Blackburn are getting a lot more possession up the field because of his strength.

Oooh! Okocha curls the ball over the wall, but Freidel makes a good save. He palms the ball away, but Diouf can only hook the rebound high over the bar.

Referee Poll awards Bolton a free-kick on the edge of the Blackburn penalty area after ruling that Nelsen was holding Davies as they challenged for a high ball. Okocha stands over the ball...

Kuqi is putting himself about a lot more than Jansen did, and he is causing a few moments of discomfort for the Bolton back-line.

Bentley picks out Mokoena, thirty yards out, but the South African slams his right-foot shot over the bar.

No signs so far that the substitutes are going to have a positive impact on the game, which seems to have become even more direct in the last few minutes.

Oooh! Jussi Jaaskelainen slips as he attempts to make a clearance, and Kuqi lunges in to try and capitalise. The Bolton keeper just gets to the ball first, but he is caught by the Blackburn striker and needs treatment on his knee.

Oooh! Ngotty does very well to get a vital header on a Bentley cross and put the ball behind for a corner; Kuqi was waiting behind had the defender not put the ball out.

Oooh! Gardener does well to turn in the area, though his left-foot shot flies a couple of yards over the angle of crossbar and post.

SUB: Kuqi and Bentley on, Jansen and Pedersen off. Two attacking changes for Blackburn, with the stronger Kuqi taking his place as the focal point up front.

SUB: Stelios off, Gardener on. Allardyce is the first to make a change, bringing on his attacking Jamaican full-back to offer a little width.

Campo's long throw in to the area is flicked on by Davies, but referee Poll awards a free-kick for Blackburn for a perceived push inside the penalty area.

A clever back-header from Stelios releases Davies down the right, but Mokoena is quick to get across and put a tackle in on the striker.

Bolton also have Borgetti on the bench, a strong, powerful Mexican striker that the club signed in the summer.

Nakata sits on the bench for Bolton; the Japanese playmaker can't have been terribly impressed with how his side are playing.

Davies charges down Freidel's clearance, but the ball deflects off his arm and the referee gives a handball decision in Blackburn's favour.

The second half has begun in much the same fashion as the first ended; lots of industry and determination, but little entertainment or excitement.

...Diouf blocks Pedersen's set-piece, but the ball is deflected out for a corner. Pedersen swings it in, but Speed flicks the ball clear.

Pedersen brings down Emerton, moments before Diouf then topples Reid out on the left touchline. A chance for Blackburn to send a good cross in to the penalty area...

Okocha must be getting frustrated; whenever he gets the ball, he is itching to create something, but Bolton are so narrow and congested that he can't pick a decent pass.

Jussi Jaaskelainen has to be alert to slide out of his penalty area to take the ball off the feet of Reid as the Blackburn forward sprinted through.

Reid stays down after a strong challenge by Campo on the left wing. He gets to his feet after a moment or two, and seems fine to carry on.

The players are back on the field and Bolton kick off the second half. There have been no changes at half-time.

HALF-TIME: Predictably, it's very tight. Predictab;y, it's been devoid of any goal-mouth action. I can't say I'm looking forward to the second half.

This time, Freidel collects the set-piece easily, coming through a crowd to claim in comfort.

...Freidel gets a hand on the centre, but Bolton win another corner when they collect the loose ball and Nelsen is forced to block an attempted cross.

Nolan's determination to chase down a lost-cause wins his side a corner...

Savage is furious when Poll awards a handball decision against him. He stamps his feet in frustration, as the referee looks on, his yellow card-finger twitching by his side.

Savage is booked for something he said to referee Poll. He has been chatting away to the offical all game, and Poll had had enough.

Oooh! The free-kick is curled in to the area, where Campo meets the ball before Freidel, though the Spaniard plants his header over the bar from six yards out.

Matteo is booked for a perceived foul on Diouf, though the replays show that the Bolton man went down very, very easily. Poor decision from referee Poll.

Blackburn have a spell of possession when they knock the ball about in midfield and across their defence. The cultured spell ends with a long ball that drifts out of play.

Okocha hurls a long ball in to the penalty area, but Nelsen rises high to head clear. Though neither side has shown much invention, the defences have played well in the first half.

Pedersen and Emerton have swapped wings for Blackburn as they attempt to create something, but Bolton are having more of the ball.

Okocha is the one player who is trying to put his foot on the ball and create something, but he's finding all roads are cul-de-sacs at the moment.

Bolton will be the most frustrated of the two sides, being the home team; they have made an excellent start to the new season and will have targetted three points.

...The ball is touched to Speed, but his shot is blocked by the Blackburn wall. Frediel collects the ball.

Mokoena blocks Okocha as he tried to weave his way past the Blackburn defender. Free-kick, 35 yards from goal...

Diouf is amazed when a free-kick decision goes against him as he and Khizanishvili challenge for a high ball 30 yards from goal.

Pedersen seems to be getting some harsh treatment from the Bolton players; he is spending a lot of time on his backside.

Nolan's looping header from the edge of the penalty area drifts harmlessly wide of Freidel's far post. Difficult chance for the Bolton midfielder.

...but his cross in to the penalty area is too high and Jussi Jaaskelainen claims comfortably. Poor delivery from Savage.

Blackburn win a free-kick on the left touchline. Savage stands over the set-piece...

Davies feels that he is blocked off by Zurab Khizanishvili as the two contest another high ball in to the Blackburn area.

Campo is booked for a cynical challenge on Pedersen, infuriating Allardyce, who has come down from his seat in the stands to take his place in the dugout.

Stelios goes down very theatrically when challenged by Savage. The referee waves 'play-on', though Stelios stays down.

There have been no attempts on goal so far, from either side; the systems are cancelling each other out and the teams are struggling to create anything.

The fans have certainly lost a little of their enthusiasm during this drab opening to the match; it seems to be a lot quieter inside the stadium at present.

Pedersen and Reid are doing their best to get up and support Jansen, on his own up front for the visitors, but Bolton are standing firm in defence.

Oooh! Nelsen's last-ditch challenge prevents Diouf getting a shot away after he had been found inside the penalty area by Stelios.

Bolton have their first-ever UEFA Cup fixture this week, so they might well have that on their minds.

The ball has spent a lot of time in the air during these early stages; it's very scrappy.

Reid is barged by Haim as the two chase Pedersen's ball in to the area. The Blackburn man goes to ground and claims a penalty, though the referee rightly ignores his claims.

A long free-kick in to the Blackburn area is comfortably dealt with when Freidel comes to the edge to claim the ball.

The referee is being kept very busy at the moment; there seems to be a free-kick or a scuffle every 30 seconds.

Neill is adjudged to have impeded Diouf as the Bolton forward attempted to break away on the left wing. Savage and Diouf exchange some unpleasant verbals in the aftermath.

Oooh! Savage whips the ball in to the congested area, but Speed flies across and heads out for a throw. Great defending from the veteran.

Stelios clips Savage as he tries to win the ball, just catching the Blackburn midfielder's knee. Free-kick, out on the left wing.

Diof is fouled, and four players end up on the turf in a heap; the Bolton man gets up with fury plastered over his face, but the referee manages to get to him and calm him down.

Perhaps predictably, there hasn't been any goalmouth action of any description so far. This has all the makings of being a stinker of a match.

The biggest cheer of the afternoon so far comes when Savage slips as he attempts a drag-back out on the right wing.

Davies wins a header inside the Bolton box, but Stellios can't quite bring the ball down and get his shot away.

The midfield is very congested at the moment, with ten players contesting the ball in the middle third of the pitch.

The towns of Bolton and Blackburn are around 20 miles apart, so the rivallry between them is respectful without being too intense.

Bolton win the first free-kick of the match when Reid slides in on Okocha, though NGotty's set-piece is too strong.

Savage is being booed by the Bolton fans; he is not a popular figure around the country. It's hard to see why.

It's not a full-house inside the stadium; there are a few empty seats at the ends of the ground, but the fans who are here are making themselves heard.

Lots of direct football in the early stages, with high balls aimed up towards the front men of both sides.

Both sides are set up in a 4-5-1 formation, and we're expecting a tough, hard-fought battle between these old clubs.

Blackburn kick off this Lancashire derby. The sun is shining in the North West of England, and there is a great atmosphere inside the Reebok Stadium.

Blackburn manager Mark Hughes gives a rare start to striker Matt Jansen, who is preferred to Shefki Kuqi.

Ivan Campo has been recalled to the Bolton starting line-up, replacing full-back Nicky Hunt in the only change to the side which defeated West Ham.

SUB: Davies off, Borgetti on. The Mexican comes on to replace Davies at the head of the Bolton attack. The home fans haven't seen much of their new signing so far this season, and he'll be keen to impress.

Blackburn win a free-kick on the left-hand side of the box, but Savage's attempt to find Nelsen at the back post is too strong and the ball curls out for a goalkick.

Oooh! Reid robs Pedersen in a dangerous area, strikes a superb shot from the edge of the penalty box, but Jussi Jaaskelainen makes a great save.

Kuqi is the sub that has had the most impact on the game; he is pressurising N'Gotty and Ben Haim and Blackburn are getting a lot more possession up the field because of his strength.

Oooh! Okocha curls the ball over the wall, but Freidel makes a good save. He palms the ball away, but Diouf can only hook the rebound high over the bar.

Referee Poll awards Bolton a free-kick on the edge of the Blackburn penalty area after ruling that Nelsen was holding Davies as they challenged for a high ball. Okocha stands over the ball...

Kuqi is putting himself about a lot more than Jansen did, and he is causing a few moments of discomfort for the Bolton back-line.

Bentley picks out Mokoena, thirty yards out, but the South African slams his right-foot shot over the bar.

No signs so far that the substitutes are going to have a positive impact on the game, which seems to have become even more direct in the last few minutes.

Oooh! Jussi Jaaskelainen slips as he attempts to make a clearance, and Kuqi lunges in to try and capitalise. The Bolton keeper just gets to the ball first, but he is caught by the Blackburn striker and needs treatment on his knee.

Oooh! Ngotty does very well to get a vital header on a Bentley cross and put the ball behind for a corner; Kuqi was waiting behind had the defender not put the ball out.

Oooh! Gardener does well to turn in the area, though his left-foot shot flies a couple of yards over the angle of crossbar and post.

SUB: Kuqi and Bentley on, Jansen and Pedersen off. Two attacking changes for Blackburn, with the stronger Kuqi taking his place as the focal point up front.

SUB: Stelios off, Gardener on. Allardyce is the first to make a change, bringing on his attacking Jamaican full-back to offer a little width.

Campo's long throw in to the area is flicked on by Davies, but referee Poll awards a free-kick for Blackburn for a perceived push inside the penalty area.

A clever back-header from Stelios releases Davies down the right, but Mokoena is quick to get across and put a tackle in on the striker.

Bolton also have Borgetti on the bench, a strong, powerful Mexican striker that the club signed in the summer.

Nakata sits on the bench for Bolton; the Japanese playmaker can't have been terribly impressed with how his side are playing.

Davies charges down Freidel's clearance, but the ball deflects off his arm and the referee gives a handball decision in Blackburn's favour.

The second half has begun in much the same fashion as the first ended; lots of industry and determination, but little entertainment or excitement.

...Diouf blocks Pedersen's set-piece, but the ball is deflected out for a corner. Pedersen swings it in, but Speed flicks the ball clear.

Pedersen brings down Emerton, moments before Diouf then topples Reid out on the left touchline. A chance for Blackburn to send a good cross in to the penalty area...

Okocha must be getting frustrated; whenever he gets the ball, he is itching to create something, but Bolton are so narrow and congested that he can't pick a decent pass.

Jussi Jaaskelainen has to be alert to slide out of his penalty area to take the ball off the feet of Reid as the Blackburn forward sprinted through.

Reid stays down after a strong challenge by Campo on the left wing. He gets to his feet after a moment or two, and seems fine to carry on.

The players are back on the field and Bolton kick off the second half. There have been no changes at half-time.

HALF-TIME: Predictably, it's very tight. Predictab;y, it's been devoid of any goal-mouth action. I can't say I'm looking forward to the second half.

This time, Freidel collects the set-piece easily, coming through a crowd to claim in comfort.

...Freidel gets a hand on the centre, but Bolton win another corner when they collect the loose ball and Nelsen is forced to block an attempted cross.

Nolan's determination to chase down a lost-cause wins his side a corner...

Savage is furious when Poll awards a handball decision against him. He stamps his feet in frustration, as the referee looks on, his yellow card-finger twitching by his side.

Savage is booked for something he said to referee Poll. He has been chatting away to the offical all game, and Poll had had enough.

Oooh! The free-kick is curled in to the area, where Campo meets the ball before Freidel, though the Spaniard plants his header over the bar from six yards out.

Matteo is booked for a perceived foul on Diouf, though the replays show that the Bolton man went down very, very easily. Poor decision from referee Poll.

Blackburn have a spell of possession when they knock the ball about in midfield and across their defence. The cultured spell ends with a long ball that drifts out of play.

Okocha hurls a long ball in to the penalty area, but Nelsen rises high to head clear. Though neither side has shown much invention, the defences have played well in the first half.

Pedersen and Emerton have swapped wings for Blackburn as they attempt to create something, but Bolton are having more of the ball.

Okocha is the one player who is trying to put his foot on the ball and create something, but he's finding all roads are cul-de-sacs at the moment.

Bolton will be the most frustrated of the two sides, being the home team; they have made an excellent start to the new season and will have targetted three points.

...The ball is touched to Speed, but his shot is blocked by the Blackburn wall. Frediel collects the ball.

Mokoena blocks Okocha as he tried to weave his way past the Blackburn defender. Free-kick, 35 yards from goal...

Diouf is amazed when a free-kick decision goes against him as he and Khizanishvili challenge for a high ball 30 yards from goal.

Pedersen seems to be getting some harsh treatment from the Bolton players; he is spending a lot of time on his backside.

Nolan's looping header from the edge of the penalty area drifts harmlessly wide of Freidel's far post. Difficult chance for the Bolton midfielder.

...but his cross in to the penalty area is too high and Jussi Jaaskelainen claims comfortably. Poor delivery from Savage.

Blackburn win a free-kick on the left touchline. Savage stands over the set-piece...

Davies feels that he is blocked off by Zurab Khizanishvili as the two contest another high ball in to the Blackburn area.

Campo is booked for a cynical challenge on Pedersen, infuriating Allardyce, who has come down from his seat in the stands to take his place in the dugout.

Stelios goes down very theatrically when challenged by Savage. The referee waves 'play-on', though Stelios stays down.

There have been no attempts on goal so far, from either side; the systems are cancelling each other out and the teams are struggling to create anything.

The fans have certainly lost a little of their enthusiasm during this drab opening to the match; it seems to be a lot quieter inside the stadium at present.

Pedersen and Reid are doing their best to get up and support Jansen, on his own up front for the visitors, but Bolton are standing firm in defence.

Oooh! Nelsen's last-ditch challenge prevents Diouf getting a shot away after he had been found inside the penalty area by Stelios.

Bolton have their first-ever UEFA Cup fixture this week, so they might well have that on their minds.

The ball has spent a lot of time in the air during these early stages; it's very scrappy.

Reid is barged by Haim as the two chase Pedersen's ball in to the area. The Blackburn man goes to ground and claims a penalty, though the referee rightly ignores his claims.

A long free-kick in to the Blackburn area is comfortably dealt with when Freidel comes to the edge to claim the ball.

The referee is being kept very busy at the moment; there seems to be a free-kick or a scuffle every 30 seconds.

Neill is adjudged to have impeded Diouf as the Bolton forward attempted to break away on the left wing. Savage and Diouf exchange some unpleasant verbals in the aftermath.

Oooh! Savage whips the ball in to the congested area, but Speed flies across and heads out for a throw. Great defending from the veteran.

Stelios clips Savage as he tries to win the ball, just catching the Blackburn midfielder's knee. Free-kick, out on the left wing.

Diof is fouled, and four players end up on the turf in a heap; the Bolton man gets up with fury plastered over his face, but the referee manages to get to him and calm him down.

Perhaps predictably, there hasn't been any goalmouth action of any description so far. This has all the makings of being a stinker of a match.

The biggest cheer of the afternoon so far comes when Savage slips as he attempts a drag-back out on the right wing.

Davies wins a header inside the Bolton box, but Stellios can't quite bring the ball down and get his shot away.

The midfield is very congested at the moment, with ten players contesting the ball in the middle third of the pitch.

The towns of Bolton and Blackburn are around 20 miles apart, so the rivallry between them is respectful without being too intense.

Bolton win the first free-kick of the match when Reid slides in on Okocha, though NGotty's set-piece is too strong.

Savage is being booed by the Bolton fans; he is not a popular figure around the country. It's hard to see why.

It's not a full-house inside the stadium; there are a few empty seats at the ends of the ground, but the fans who are here are making themselves heard.

Lots of direct football in the early stages, with high balls aimed up towards the front men of both sides.

Both sides are set up in a 4-5-1 formation, and we're expecting a tough, hard-fought battle between these old clubs.

Blackburn kick off this Lancashire derby. The sun is shining in the North West of England, and there is a great atmosphere inside the Reebok Stadium.

Blackburn manager Mark Hughes gives a rare start to striker Matt Jansen, who is preferred to Shefki Kuqi.

Ivan Campo has been recalled to the Bolton starting line-up, replacing full-back Nicky Hunt in the only change to the side which defeated West Ham.