Blackburn 0 - Bolton 0: Pressure mounts on Bowyer as Dervite is sent-off in stalemate

Blackburn Rovers manager Gary Bowyer is still awaiting his first win this season

BLACKBURN boss Gary Bowyer is still looking for his first win of the season to safeguard his job.

 

Rovers denied a report last weekend that Bowyer had been sacked and his team gave him everything in last night's Lancashire derby in a bid to add to his job security.

But they couldn't force a winner to leave Bowyer facing a potentially anxious international break as he looks to keep the support of the Venky family.

 

"I think you've seen the effort and the commitment of our players and the fans were terrific," said Boywer.

 

Blackburn's Shane Duffy battling with Emile Heskey in the 0-0 draw

They could have been celebrating that elusive opening win had Jordan Rhodes taken one of two decent first-half chances.

The striker was back from a two-game injury absence and was perhaps ring rusty as he headed wide crosses from Craig Conway and Ben Marshall.

And he admitted: "Draws in the championship are not what everyone wants.

 

"Given the chances both sides will be disappointed. It would have been nice to get all three.

"I should have hit the target with one of my chances. It's disappointing for a striker. I'll be working on that."

Tommy Spurr came even closer to winning it for Blackburn when he had a header cleared off the line by Mark Davies with 20 minutes to go.

But Bolton also thought they had grabbed their first victory of the campaign when substitute Emile Heskey was denied a dramatic late winner by Shane Duffy's goalline block before Bolton defender Dorian Dervite was sent off in stoppage time for a second booking.