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 relegation trouble.

Bolton had 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.

Five minutes later the match was effectively over 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.

The late twist capped a remarkably entertaining affair between an out of form home side and the visitors, who made four changes following their heroic UEFA Cup triumph in Madrid in midweek.

The home side were almost in front inside the opening minute when a half-clearance fell to Dunn 20 yards from goal and the midfielder's low shot was well saved by Jussi Jaaskelainen.

But Bolton came even closer to going ahead in the 11th minute when Campo's long throw from the right was flicked on in the box by Kevin Davies to El-Hadji Diouf, whose overhead kick from eight yards was superbly saved by Brad Friedel.

Benni McCarthy squared up to Steinsson after the South African's attempts to burst clear over the half-way line were ended by a cynical challenge, and moments later Steven Reid was booked for hacking down Ivan Campo.

But the goalmouth action kept fractious tempers at bay. Roque Santa Cruz was denied by an Andy O'Brien interception before Dunn controversially won Rovers' first spot-kick after Gretar Steinsson was harshly adjudged to have fouled.

McCarthy stepped up to fire the ball low and straight down the middle to put Rovers in front, and the home side might have gone further ahead in the 38th minute when Morten Gamst Pedersen's cross dribbled across the face of goal.

And they were almost punished moments later when Christopher Samba's error played in Diouf, whose shot was saved low by Friedel but rebounded to the feet of Nolan who lofted his effort against the bar.

A minute from the break Rovers had another chance when Brett Emerton's cross from the left found the head of Santa Cruz in front of goal but the striker's effort was inches wide.

Megson made an attacking change at half-time when Gregorz Rasiak replaced Danny Guthrie, and within three minutes the big striker bundled home a Davies free-kick from close-range but was ruled offside.

One minute later the visitors drew level when a long Matthew Taylor free-kick fell to Davies on the edge of the six-yard box, and he fired a low shot past Friedel at the second attempt.

The visitors were rampant, and almost took the lead three minutes later when the impressive Nolan burst through the home defence and lashed a fine effort which was well saved by Friedel.

Then with the home side reeling, another clever move by Nolan teed up a chance for Taylor, who rammed his shot over the bar from just inside the Rovers box.

Bolton came close again on the hour when Campo lofted a long free-kick into the box and found Gary Cahill, who hit his shot straight at Friedel before the Rovers defence hacked clear.

But Rovers were given the chance to retake their lead in the 65th minute when Cahill inexplicably hacked down Dunn in an unthreatening position just inside the Bolton box.

Referee Mark Clattenberg had no option but to point to the spot a second time and McCarthy once again rammed his second spot-kick straight down the middle to give the home side a scarcely deserved advantage.

Five minutes later Rovers turned the game on its head when Dunn delivered a precise cross from the left and Bentley rose at the far post to nod the home side's third past Jaaskelainen.

And to add insult to injury for Bolton, Rovers grabbed a fourth deep into injury time when substitute Jason Roberts crossed from the left and Pedersen stole in to sidefoot home the simplest of chances.

Megson fumes at ref

Bolton boss Gary Megson admitted feeling a sense of injustice after watching his relegation-threatened side give away two penalties and sink to a heavy defeat at Ewood Park today.