BLACKBURN Rovers and Bolton Wanderers served up a pulsating Lancashire derby at Ewood Park with the home side ending up 4-1 victors on an enjoyable afternoon for Mark Hughes' side.

Benni McCarthy gave Rovers the lead on 25 minutes from the penalty spot after David Dunn had been felled in the area, but minutes after the break Kevin Davies levelled from close range.

But less than ten minutes later the home side were back in front after Dunn was once again upended in the box and McCarthy lashed the spot-kick home.

There was however to be no second comeback from Gary Megson's side as Rovers hit two further goals, one from the head of David Bentley after more good work from Dunn, whilst Morten Gamst Pedersen applied the icing on the cake with a last-minute goal, lashing home Jason Roberts' centre.

Before the game Mark Hughes made three changes to the starting eleven from their previous outing. With Andre Ooijer sidelined with a hamstring strain, it meant a return to the starting line-up for Christopher Samba, the defender back from serving a two-match suspension.

Also returning after suspension were David Dunn and Morten Gamst Pedersen. The one-time Bolton target replaced Tugay who dropped to the bench, whilst on the left flank Pedersen was preferred to Bruno Berner who didn't make the sixteen.

Bolton, fresh from their triumph in Europe in midweek made five changes, Gardner, Campo, Steinsson, Guthrie and Diouf all returning to start this Lancashire derby.

Rovers almost got off to the perfect start when within fifteen seconds of the kick-off they had registered an effort on target. Straight from the start the ball was played forward to Pedersen, but although he couldn't get his shot away Benni McCarthy did, his effort from the edge of the area beaten away by Jaaskelainen diving away to his left.

That lively start set the tone for the match. So often games between the two sides have been drab dull affairs, but the same couldn't be said this afternoon.

On ten minutes it was the visitors turn to go close, from a long throw into the area the ball eventually dropped to El Hadji Diouf, the Senegal striker struck the ball well on the volley but Friedel pulled off a fantastic close-range block with his chest and Khizanishvili was on hand to prevent Bolton profiting from the rebound.

But just past the midway point of the half Rovers were handed the opportunity to put themselves in front from the penalty spot. Pedersen and McCarthy combined well down the left before Dunn charged into the area. Gretar Rafn Steinsson flung himself towards the ball in desperation, Dunn went to ground and Mark Clattenburg pointed to the spot. It was a harsh decision for Bolton, the Icelander had got the ball first and the man second.

Games between Bolton and Rovers are often littered with penalties, and missed one for Rovers here at Ewood Park, but Benni McCarthy made no mistake from the spot sending Jaaskelainen the wrong way to claim his tenth goal of the season.

Pedersen and McCarthy were linking up well down the left, another cross from Pedersen deserved better but Santa Cruz and Bentley couldn't connect.

But at the other end Rovers were once again breathing a huge sigh of relief as Bolton were just the width of the bar away from levelling. Christopher Samba headed straight to Diouf on the edge of his own area, his shot was smothered by Friedel but Nolan on the rebound looked on as his effort bounced off the top of the bar.

Just before the break it was Rovers' turn to rue a missed chance when Brett Emerton's centre was headed inches wide of the goal by Roque Santa Cruz.

Whatever Gary Megson said at the break had the desired effect as Bolton came out with more purpose at the start of the second. Danny Guthrie had been sacrificed for the addition of striker Gregorz Rasiak resulting in a change of formation and a change of fortune.

Just three minutes after the turnaround Bolton had the ball in the net, Kevin Davies's centre was chested home by Rasiak but the former Southampton man was a yard offside.

Bolton didn't have long to wait until the scores were level as just a minute later Kevin Davies got a second bite of a Ivan Campo free-kick and he fired low throw a crowd of bodies into the back of the net from a tight angle.

Rovers were rattled, Kevin Nolan managed to get a shot away under pressure from Dunn, Friedel again called into action to make a vital save, moments later the American had to dive at the feet of Gary Cahill to block the defender's effort.

But just as it looked like Rovers would be in for a torrid final half hour they regained the lead and again it was from the penalty spot. Steven Warnock fed the ball into David Dunn just inside the area with his back to goal only to be dumped to the ground by Gary Cahill. Just like the first half, Mark Clattenburg pointed straight to the spot.

Benni McCarthy, who beat Jussi Jaaskelainen from the spot twice at the Reebok last season, made no mistake once again, driving the ball straight and high into the back of the net.

Four minutes later and the game was wrapped up, again it was David Dunn who played a key role in proceedings. His surging run down the left flank was followed up by a teasing cross to the back post where David Bentley arrived to head home from a tight angle.

The third goal killed off any hopes of a Bolton come back, gone was the visiting side's eagerness that they had shown in the first twenty minutes of the second half, resigned to their fate it was more damage limitation from them. Certainly from boss Megson as Kevin Nolan somehow escaped picking up a second yellow card after taking Dunn down from behind, the Bolton captain was immediately replaced.

As the game ticked into the final seconds of time added on it was perhaps just that Rovers would add a fourth, substitute Jason Roberts showing great strength to hold off his marker before sending over a ball to the back post where Morten Gamst Pedersen fired home for his first league goal in over twelve months.

What is it about games between these two sides and penalties? This was the third time in four matches between the famous old clubs that has seen two penalties awarded.

The win takes Rovers back into ninth place, Kevin Keegan's beleaguered side are next up for the Lancashire club.

ROVERS: Friedel, Emerton, Samba, Khizanishvili, Warnock, Bentley, Reid (c), Dunn (sub Mokoena 77 mins), Pedersen, Santa Cruz, McCarthy (sub Roberts 82 mins).

Subs not used: Brown (GK), Tugay, Derbyshire.

BOLTON: Jaaskelainen, Nolan (c) (sub Cohen 76 mins), Campo (sub J. O'Brien 76 mins), Gardner, Davies, Steinsson, Guthrie (sub Rasiak 46 mins), Diouf, A. O'Brien, Taylor, Cahill.

Subs not used: Al Habsi (GK), Meite.

Booked: Reid, Dunn (Rovers), Nolan, Guthrie, Campo, Diouf (Bolton).

Attendance: 23,995