JASON Roberts was the hero as Rovers once again came from behind to claim all three points in a game of contrasts at the Reebok Stadium.

After a tepid first half, only lit up by Nolan's sensational volley just before the break, Rovers rallied as they have so often done so this season. The comeback began when Christopher Samba headed Rovers level on 53 minutes, but it was the introduction of Jason Roberts 13 minutes from time that changed the game totally in the visiting side's favour.

Latching onto a flick from Santa Cruz, Roberts ran from his own half up to the edge of the opposing area before firing the ball low past Jaaskelainen to secure a vital win in their chase for a place in Europe. The win puts Rovers within three points of the Champions League places, but defeat for Bolton leaves them looking nervously over their shoulders.

After the disaster of the FA Cup, Mark Hughes made seven changes to his starting line-up, the Rovers boss welcoming back Andre Ooijer, Steven Reid, David Dunn and Roque Santa Cruz from injury, whilst Stephen Warnock, Morten Gamst Pedersen and Ryan Nelsen were restored to the side.

On a bitterly cold afternoon in the shadow of the appropriately named Winter Hill, neither side looked to warm the hearts and hands with an uninspiring first half display.

Bolton's main source of threat came from the guile of Ivan Camp and the brute force of Kevin Davies, whilst at the other end David Bentley looked lively down the right flank, but chances were at a premium.

Campo's long throws into the area regularly caused consternation for the Rovers defence without ever resulting in an effort on goal, but a subsequent free-kick from the Spaniard on 12 minutes caught the Rovers backline ball watching, allowing Davis to get round the back to head at goal, but unlike the rest of the defence Friedel was alert to the danger and blocked the effort with his legs.

Mark Hughes' side looked neat and tidy on the ball when allowed time and space, but that was a rarity as the home side's five-man midfield kept chances to a minimum. Having to resort to long-range efforts, Bentley forced two saves from Jaaskelainen, whilst a Steven Reid free-kick was drilled hard and low but into the arms of the Finnish international.

It was an untidy first period, foul after foul awarded, no flow or rhythm to either side's play, but just before the break came the only piece of class in the first 45, and with it the opening goal.

A Danny Guthrie free-kick from the left was punched clear by Friedel, but as the Rovers defence relaxed, Joey O'Brien hooked the ball over to the far side of the area where Kevin Nolan spectacularly  volleyed the ball straight past the Rovers number one and into the top corner of the goal.

It was a strike of the highest order, totally out of keeping from the 42 minutes that had gone before.

There was almost an immediate response when Pedersen crossed into the area, but Roque Santa Cruz, so deadly in recent weeks, couldn't direct his header on target.

From the restart both sides had excellent opportunities, the first fell to Bolton when the ball broke to Tamir Cohan on the edge of the box, but his side-footed effort was weak and easily dealt with. Whilst at the other end Morten Gamst Pedersen's centre was controlled by Roque Santa Cruz, but his effort off the side of his boot was beaten away by Jussi Jaaskelainen.

But Rovers didn't have long to wait to get back on level terms when on 53 minutes David Bentley's corner kick from the right was headed down, up and into the back of the net by Christopher Samba, his header bouncing up and over the helpless Danny Guthrie on the goal-line.

Bolton almost hit straight back when a Stelios cross from the right was diverted onto the roof of the net by the fortunate David Dunn, but then it was Rovers' turn as a clever dummy from Santa Cruz allowed Bentley's centre to arrive at Pedersen, but as the Norwegian set himself for the volley at goal, Joey O'Brien nipped in for a vital block.

On 70 minutes Pedersen was inches away from grabbing his first goal since last February, Benni McCarthy was influential, his clever control and turn setting up the winger, but his low strike was a foot wide of the far post much to his frustration.

Both sides made changes, Campo and Cohen were replaced by McCann and Wilhelmsson, but it was the Rovers duo of Khizanishvili and Roberts - on for the hardworking duo of Ooijer and McCarthy - who made the required impression. Both players sending over inviting crosses from the right but they couldn't be capitalised on.

But it was Roberts who was proving to be a real handful, bringing a foul from Andy O'Brien that resulted in David Bentley's free-kick being tipped round the post by Jaaskelainen, then it was only the outstretched leg of O'Brien that denied the former Wigan forward, his shot deflecting up and over the crossbar.

But Roberts, back from a foot injury that had forced him out of the Christmas period, wasn't to be denied, as the clock approached 90 minutes there seemed little danger when Roque Santa Cruz flicked the ball into Roberts' path inside his own half. but he's known for his power and pace and showed just that, first to evade the desperate tackle lunge from Nolan, and then to knock the ball past Andy O'Brien and race clear, but with the angle getting ever tighter he unleashed a tremendous low strike from the edge of the area that beat Jaaskelainen all ends up and to send the 1500 travelling Rovers fans into raptures.

The players too celebrated in a huddle at the side of the pitch to congratulate Roberts.

Three minutes were shown by the fourth official, five additional minutes were played, but there was little in the way of danger to set up a nervy finish, and at the final whistle it was Rovers who celebrated their third league win on the spin as Gary Megson tasted a home defeat in the league for the first time.

The victory sees Rovers move to within three points of fourth place in the league, and with home games against Middlesbrough and Everton coming up, there is every incentive to climb ever higher.

BOLTON: Jaaskelainen, Nolan (c), Stelios, Campo, Gardner, Davis, Guthrie, J. O'Brien, Cohen (sub Wilhelmsson 63 mins), Michalik, A. O'Brien.

Subs not used: Al Habsi (GK), Hunt, McCann, Fojut.

ROVERS: Friedel, Ooijer (sub Khizanishvili 73 mins), Samba, Nelsen (c), Warnock, Bentley, Dunn, Reid, Pedersen, Santa Cruz (sub Derbyshire 90 mins), McCarthy (sub Roberts 77 mins).

Subs not used: Brown (GK), Berner.

Booked: Campo, Cohan (Bolton), Samba (Rovers).

Attendance: 18,315