Jussi saves earn Bolton win

22 oktober 2006, 19:00

Jussi Jaaskelainen saved two penalties in two minutes as Bolton secured a remarkable 1-0 victory over Blackburn. The Finland shot-stopper came to the rescue with Blackburn chasing the game after Ivan Campo's opening goal.

Jaaskelainen first blocked Benni McCarthy's effort in the 87th minute then sub Jason Roberts' attempt 60 seconds later.

Bolton skipper Kevin Nolan was then sent off for dissent as they stretched their unbeaten run to seven games to stay on the shoulders of Manchester United and Chelsea.

Blackburn, superb winners in the UEFA Cup against Wisla Krakow, will wonder how they lost this match.

Morten Gamst Pedersen and Andre Ooijer both went close inside the opening 16 minutes.

Then Robbie Savage almost made the breakthrough in the 19th minute his 25-yard free-kick being superbly tipped over the top by Jaaskelainen.

Bolton, though, launched two swift counter-attacks in quick succession.

El-Hadji Diouf sent his effort into goalkeeper Brad Friedel's arms after being released by Nicolas Anelka.

Then, in the 21st minute, the Senegal striker's header came back off the post, again following good work by his French team-mate.

Blackburn were looking dangerous from set-pieces and Pedersen rattled in a free-kick from distance in the 26th minute that came back off Jaaskelainen's body.

It was an entertaining game with Nolan seeing his powerful shot deflected for a corner after good work by Anelka.

Play swung back down the other end and Shabani Nonda headed off target after being released by David Bentley.

Jaaskelainen was called into action in the 37th minute when he reacted superbly to turn over a 35-yard piledriver from Tugay.

Bolton veteran Gary Speed then cleared off the line after a header from Zurab Khizanishvili hit the goalkeeper.

Nonda, on loan from Roma, was being allowed plenty of space but his header in the 43rd minute landed on the roof of the net.

Bentley squandered a great chance of giving Blackburn the lead on the stroke of half-time.

He was left clear at the far post as Brett Emerton played the ball in following a surging run but Jaaskelainen was able to smother his weak effort.

Tugay strode forward in the 50th minute and tried his luck only to see his effort clear the bar.

Jaaskelainen kept Bolton on level terms two minutes later when he reacted smartly to push away a shot from McCarthy, who had latched onto a ball from Lucas Neill.

Bolton retaliated and Campo released Diouf but he was wasteful, his effort clearing the bar.

Then Pedersen tried to curl a shot beyond Jaaskelainen but the goalkeeper was equal to it.

Blackburn appeared to be turning the screw in front of a crowd of 27,662.

But then Bolton unexpectedly took the lead in the 61st minute through Campo.

He was left unmarked in the six-yard box as Diouf swung in a corner from the left and headed firmly past the stranded Friedel.

Campo wheeled away in delight after scoring his fourth goal of the season.

Bolton almost added a second in the 66th minute when Friedel beat away a shot from Nolan following Kevin Davies' lay-off.

Blackburn boss Mark Hughes made a double substitution in the 74th minute, bringing on Roberts and Aaron Mokoena for Pedersen and Savage.

But the match took a dramatic turn in the 87th minute when Jaaskelainen saved McCarthy's penalty after Roberts had been bundled over by Quinton Fortune.

Incredibly, Blackburn were awarded another penalty a minute later and again Jaaskelainen kept it out.

Roberts dusted himself down after being blocked by Speed only for the Finn to be equal to it.

Nolan, however, was then sent off for dissent as Bolton held on for a remarkable victory.

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