Bolton W 0 Blackburn 2:SAM ALLARDYCE was barred on doctor's orders from returning to his old stamping ground of Bolton while he awaits a minor heart operation, but if he allowed himself a peek on the telly, it would have provided just the tonic.

In his absence, Blackburn Rovers did him proud, deservedly winning this Lancashire derby with a first-half goal from the irrepressible David Dunn, back to his best, and one of the most comical own goals of the season by the Bolton defender Sam Ricketts. It is Bolton’s manager, Gary Megson, his side stuck in the bottom three, who had most cause to check his blood pressure.

Neil McDonald, Allardyce’s assistant, suggested that the manager’s withdrawal from the frontline as he prepares for an operation at the end of this week is, at best, tenuous.

“Hopefully, we have taken a little bit of stress away and put a smile on his face,” he said. “Sam looks after himself – he has check-ups regularly because of the stress of the job.”

As for Dunn, he is back to the form that won him an England cap against Portugal six years ago and, at 29, has not abandoned hope of a squad place in South Africa.

Blackburn, the more methodical side, led after 34 minutes. Dunn broke quickly down the left, Jason Roberts laid the ball back and his adroit finish – a chip to the far post that Jussi Jaaskelainen got a hand to but could not divert – brought chants from the Rovers fans of “Dunny for England”.

Bolton are shipping goals so regularly that it can prey on the most stable minds. Threats are imagined when none exist; the simplest defensive operation becomes a potential calamity. That was exemplified 17 minutes from time with one of the most comical own goals of the season. Brett Emerton’s floated cross carried no danger as Jaaskelainen came for a routine collection, but Ricketts never heard a call and popped a header into an unguarded net.