MATCH VERDICT: Blackburn Rovers 0 Bolton Wanderers 0

Wanderers dug deep to earn a derby point at Ewood Park with a defensive display of real resilience.

Dorian Dervite saw red for a second yellow card in injury time but not before doing his bit in a stunning rearguard display in a pulsating game that continued to keep us guessing right up to the end.

Both sides had shots cleared off the in the final 15 minutes – Tommy Spurr for the hosts and Emile Heskey for the Whites – but the enduring talking point of the night was the performance of the officials.

The portents were not good early on as two excellent penalty shouts were rejected by referee Paul Tierney.

After a raiding run from Wellington Silva, Zach Clough went to ground after a trip from Shane Duffy. The Whites striker didn’t appeal, chasing the ball, but seconds later, Mark Davies burst through, and Craig Conway sent him tumbling.

Quite how referee Tierney didn’t spot the winger’s trailing leg sending Davies to ground is anyone’s guess. But the Lancashire official kept his hands behind his back and with a theatrical shake of his head, turned down the appeals around him.

Rovers certainly had plenty of good possession, and looked dangerous at set pieces. Shane Duffy put two early headers over the top, and Jordan Rhodes came within inches of announcing his return from injury with a goal, connecting too well with Craig Conway’s superb cross from the right.

The home side looked dangerous in the wide positions, and with half an hour gone Ben Marshall produced another great ball from the left which was again put uncharacteristically over the top by Rhodes.

Wanderers looked towards Wellington for inspiration and once again the little Brazilian was looking up for the challenge, albeit he still looked a little isolated at times on the wing.

Again, the build up play was neat enough but the final delivery, or finish, all too often lacking. Neil Danns summed things up when he got a decent sight of goal on the edge of the box but pulled a poor shot low and wide of goal.

There had been a few niggles in the first half, including a bruising running battle between Gary Madine and his marker Duffy.

But Wellington also got riled up after tangling with Henley and was lucky to escape with just a yellow card when he kicked out at the Rovers full-back after a high challenge.

Ref Tierney didn’t appear to have spotted the incident and produced the yellow on the advice of his assistant. But a stronger reaction from Henley could certainly have landed Wellington in big trouble.

There were a few tense moments in the Wanderers defence as Gary Bowyer’s side continued to force the issue going into half time.

Prince again looked composed, his pace and reading of the game looking a step above the rest. And but for the couple of times Rhodes had escaped his attentions, Dorian Dervite also impressed alongside him.

But Wanderers will be disappointed they did not have the final say of the half when Feeney put a good ball in towards the far post for Madine, and the big striker failed to keep his header down and test Rovers keeper David Raya. Behind him, Wellington may even have been in a better position to get a shot away on goal.

The game continued to be an open affair going into the second half, with Rovers still picking up chances at set pieces. Duffy sent his third header over the bar within moments of the restart.

Marshall also saw a shot loop up off Moxey and land on the roof of Ben Amos’s goal.

But within a blink of an eye, Moxey was in action at the other end, his shot deflecting off Hanley after a couple of penetrating runs from Wellington and Davies.

Wanderers kept Rovers penned in and Wellington curled a carefully measured effort just wide.

Picking a winner at this point was nigh-on impossible – but as the tensions mounted, it Referee Tierney was struggling to keep control of the game as the pressure really started to mount.

A mix up with a throw in nearly cost Wanderers as Rovers countered quickly and only a last-ditch challenge from Moxey prevented Rhodes from getting a shot in on goal.

Jason Lowe was also a lucky boy after he chopped down Wellington at full pace – the midfielder eventually cautioned after play had continued and Danns’ shot was deflected wide.

Amos was then called upon to make a fingertip save from Rhodes, a free kick that should never have been awarded against Dervite in the first place.

Rovers were turning the screw and looking the most likely to nick one. Some of the defending was ugly at times, but there was no doubting its effectiveness.

Davies hooked the ball off the line when Spurr got his head to Conway’s corner, Koita following up with a wasteful shot wide from close range.

The same striker then had a goal ruled out for offside as Rovers nearly grabbed a win at the death.

Lennon had thrown Emile Heskey into the mix to try and conjure something and with two minutes remaining the former England striker nearly grabbed a winner.

Raya parried a cross into his path and Heskey got his shot on target only to be denied another memorable goal against Rovers by some brilliant covering by Duffy on the line.

Dervite then saw red at the bitter end for a soft foul in the corner, summing up what had been a bad day for local lad Tierney.