Yorkie helps Rovers hold Bolton

Bolton 2 Blackburn 2

Dwight Yorke gave Bolton a taste of how things used to be when he grabbed an equaliser deep into stoppage time today.

Bolton had a habit of shooting themselves in the foot last season when they conceded late goals.

That old familiar failing recurred in front of a record-breaking crowd at the Reebok Stadium.

Bolton strolled into a 2-0 lead only to lose their way even though sub Steven Reid was sent off on his debut for Blackburn.

The club’s survival in the top flight for a third successive year showed in the gate.

A crowd of 27,423 attended their first home game – a best for the Reebok Stadium.

They got off to a flying start and Youri Djorkaeff found space on the edge of the area after just 60 seconds and tried to lob goalkeeper Brad Friedel.

It was a well-struck chip but floated just over the top of the bar to Friedel’s relief.

However the former World Cup winner made the breakthrough in the third minute to give Bolton the early goal they craved.

Referee Andy D’Urso awarded a penalty after Lucas Neill had tugged captain Jay-Jay Okocha as he tried to break clear.

Djorkaeff confidently stroked the penalty beyond Friedel and into the corner.

Blackburn found themselves under pressure with Djorkaeff and Henrik Pedersen coming close to adding to their tally.

Australian defender Neill was then booked when he tripped the pacey Ricardo Gardner.

Bolton added a second goal in the 25th minute with Kevin Davies finding the target against his former club.

It was clinical finish by Davies from the edge of the area after he latched onto a crossfield pass from Djorkaeff.

Pedersen almost added a third on the half-hour but Friedel turned his shot around the post.

It was just the start Bolton wanted after they had failed to beat Blackburn in their previous eight meetings.

Bolton were dictating the pace with Djorkaeff and Okocha becoming increasingly influential.

Brett Emerton’s frustration spilled over in the 42nd minute when he was booked for tripping Djorkaeff.

The French star then released Davies but he had strayed marginally offside.

However a looping header from David Thompson caught Bolton goalkeeper Jussi Jaaskelainen by surprise, only to drift wide of the post.

Okocha tested Friedel at the start of the second half with a 30-yard shot before Bruno N’Gotty saw a header go wide of the post after he was picked out by Djorkaeff.

Blackburn retaliated and Jaaskelainen did well to parry Matt Jansen’s effort from 20 yards.

Jansen pulled a goal back for Blackburn in the 50th minute with a fine finish after a low cross from Thompson.

Yorke could have pulled his side level in the 54th minute when Vratislav Gresko floated in a cross, only to send his header wide of the post.

Djorkaeff tried to curl a free-kick beyond Friedel from 25 yards after Thompson had tripped Pedersen in the 58th minute but was out of luck.

Bolton full-back Nicky Hunt then broke forward and lashed in a shot that Friedel beat away.

However Pedersen was left shaking his head in frustration, believing Hunt should have cut the ball back.

Cole came on for Blackburn in the 64th minute for Jansen, who had worked tirelessly.

Okocha’s cross two minutes later caused Gresko to mis-kick and concede a corner.

Hunt prevented Blackburn drawing level in the 73rd minute when he cleared a sky-high lob from Yorke off the line with Jaaskelainen out of position.

Bolton immediately went on the counter attack but Pedersen was slow to react and Gresko was able to get in a timely challenge.

Blackburn were reduced to 10 men in the 87th minute when Irish international Steven Reid was dismissed on his debut after bringing down Stelios Giannakopoulos.

Yorke, however, grabbed a point deep into stoppage time when he got on the end of Ciccio Grabbi’s cross to head home.