Ryan Nelsen: Bolton victory was for Big Sam

Sam Allardyce was sent a 'get well soon' message from his players - after Blackburn Rovers gave him the perfect pick-me-up before he goes into hospital.

Boss Allardyce goes in for heart surgery this week and missed the win at his old club Bolton, with skipper Ryan Nelsen dedicating the triumph to their absent leader.

Nelsen said: "Sam was with us in spirit, there was a bit extra from the lads for him. All of the boys are really happy we have given him a victory.

"We played the way he wanted us to play and we wish him all of the best. before his operation. But it will take a lot to put that old elephant down."

Rovers star David Dunn was also delighted to score for his boss and set up a sweet win over their local rivals. He laughed: "Maybe the gaffer should stay away a bit longer."

Caretaker Neil McDonald took charge and claimed he had no contact with Allardyce - despite being spotted taking messages on the phone during the game.

McDonald said: “Sam told us before the game just to get on with it. We knew what we had to do and we did it. We had a game plan and it worked great - we even made changes and those paid off too.”

It was a major result for Bolton old boy McDonald, taking charge of a team for the first time since being sacked one game into the season at Carlisle United two years ago.

McDonald also sent Allardyce his regards and added: "It was quite strange when the manager is not there but we know our jobs and we are responsible people. Hopefully we have taken a bit of stress away from him."

Allardyce is not expected to return for around three to four weeks despite the official line that he could return within ten days. But the win takes the pressure off everyone at Blackburn.

Now Bolton are in real bother and boss Gary Megson was taunted by both sets of fans after a horror defeat left his team in the bottom three.

Megson felt the first goal changed the game and the freak second - when Sam Ricketts headed into an empty net from 25 yards with keeper Jussi Jaaskelainen missing - ended the match.

He groaned: "It was Comic Cuts. To go 2-0 down was bad enough, but to go 2-0 down in those circumstances took the wind out of our sails."

Megson was jeered in the closing stages and many fans walked out on the struggling side. He said: "We are a team that is two goals down and playing poorly. You can understand why people are leaving early.

"I got stick for taking off Ricardo Gardner, but Matt Taylor looked like our best chance of scoring. He has got that goal threat."