Blackburn 4
McCarthy 25(pen),67(pen) Bentley 71 Pedersen 90
Bolton 1
Davies 50
Blackburn 4 Bolton 1 February 24 2008
Benni McCarthy forced Bolton to pay the penalty at Ewood Park as he struck home two ice-cool spot-kicks to clinch a 4-1 derby victory.
Gary Cahill's needless 65th-minute foul on David Dunn in the visitors' box turned the game on its head, paving the way for Rovers to reignite their European hopes and leaving Gary Megson's men deep in trouble.
McCarthy's first penalty on 25 minutes gave Rovers the lead but Bolton burst out at the start of the second period and Kevin Davies' 49th-minute equaliser sparked a prolonged period of dominance which was only broken by Cahill's clumsy challenge, again converted from the spot by the South African.
The match was effectively over on 71 when David Bentley nodded home Rovers' third at the far post, with Morten Gamst Pedersen giving a overly one-sided look to the scoreline with an injury-time fourth.