Many predicted that the game would be a close encounter, and indeed it turned out to be that way as neither side could force a breakthrough in the final third of the field throughout the course of the game.

Blackburn proved to be a very tight defensive unit and their Welsh midfielder Robbie Savage was showing all the hallmarks of his often dubious character during certain stages in the game.

Many would argue that Savage shows a lack of sportsmanship but his antics today proved to be one of few talking points in a game which fizzled out quicker than a dampened firework. Neither side will hold claim to it being their best performance and will want to get on with the next game as soon as possible.

The game started very scrappy and there was often a lack of fluency in the passing which meant that both teams cancelled each other out when trying to create goalscoring chances.

It took over half an hour for this game to see its first real opportunity, but Bolton's Kevin Nolan could not keep his quick reaction header from going over Brad Friedel's crossbar.

A lot of the players on show became frustrated with the performance of referee Graham Poll as they felt that he gave decisions the way of the opposition which they felt should have gone the way of their side. As a derby there wasn't the usual spice or high charge but there was a few off the ball niggles between old friends nonetheless.

Wanderers star Ivan Campo seemed to cope well in first Premiership start at right-back as the usually in-form Rovers winger Morten Gamst Pedersen was kept at bay during his time on the field.

Campo nearly netted his third goal of the season shortly before the break but his header from a right sided Gary Speed free kick went over Friedel's bar in a similar vein to that of Nolan earlier in the half.

It was to be expected that both managers would freshen up their teams during the half time break and a number of substitutes entered the proceedings in the first quarter of the second half.

Bolton brought on Ricardo Gardner in place of Stelios Giannakopoulos and the Jamaican international was to revert back to his old role on the left wing as makeshift full back Henrik Pedersen once again did a fine job as this time he kept Rovers midfielder Brett Emerton frustrated.

The visitors made changes to their line up too as Matt Jansen and Morten Gamst Pedersen made way for Shefki Kuqi and David Bentley, the latter being the young winger on loan from Arsenal who was making his Rovers debut.

Bentley's introduction seemed to give Blackburn a new lease of life and his cross on the hour could have so easily caused mayhem in the area but for the calmness of the experienced Bolton defender Bruno N'Gotty.

A few minutes later Blackburn's defensive anchorman Aaron Mokoena then fired over from 25-yards out just to give Bolton a further warning that their near neighbours were not just around to make up the numbers.

Perhaps the best Bolton chance of the game came on 65 minutes when Friedel made a fine save to deny Jay-Jay Okocha from opening the scoring following a free kick that looked destined for the top corner of the net.

Irish midfielder Stephen Reid then went close at the other end for Blackburn following a mistake by Henrik Pedersen but Trotters goalkeeper Jussi Jaaskelainen was on hand to keep the scoreline level by flying bravely in the face of any danger.

Jaaskelainen was then on hand to make a good save from substitute Bentley after the youngster tried to catch the Finnish custodian out of position with a clever chip towards the far post.

At the death neither Kevin Nolan or Ivan Campo could find a way past Friedel in what was a disappointing afternoon for both teams who had looked for bragging rights in what is usually a close yet incident filled encounter.

Bolton now face their first ever UEFA Cup game against Lokomotiv Plovdiv on Thursday night followed by a trip to local rivals Manchester City at the City of Manchester Stadium a week today.

Bolton Wanderers: Jussi Jaaskelainen, Ivan Campo, Tal Ben-Haim, Bruno N'Gotty, Pedersen, Kevin Nolan, Jay-Jay Okocha (Nicky Hunt), Gary Speed, El-Hadji Diouf, Kevin Davies (Jared Borgetti), Stelios Giannakopoulos (Ricardo Gardner)

Subs Not Used: Ian Walker, Hidetoshi Nakata

Blackburn Rovers: Brad Friedel, Lucas Neill, Zurab Khizanishvili, Ryan Nelsen, Dominic Matteo, Brett Emerton, Aaron Mokoena, Robbie Savage, Stephen Reid, Morten Gamst Pedersen (David Bentley), Matt Jansen (Shefki Kuqi)

Subs Not Used: Peter Enckleman, Paul Dickov, Tugay

Referee:

Graham Poll

Attendance:

24,405

Booked:

Ivan Campo (Bolton)

Dominic Matteo (Blackburn)

Robbie Savage (Blackburn)

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