Goals in quick succession by Adam Nelson and Matt Jansen in the first period took the sting out of Wanderers who had given Peter Enckleman in the Rovers goal an easy evening.
The visitors opened the scoring on 25 minutes when a cross from the left by former Manchester United striker Dwight Yorke was met by youngster Nelson who headed the ball past Jamaican Donovan Ricketts in the Wanderers goal. Six minutes later Rovers increased their lead as Jansen met an inswinging corner to make it 2-0.
Jermaine Johnson and Dwight Pezzarossi both had chances to bring Bolton back into the game but the chances they created where not enough to pull the home side back into the contest.
With just under ten minutes remaining Blackburn substitute Jemal Johnson completed the scoring when he despatched a penalty with ease past Ricketts in the Bolton goal but Wanderers had the Jamaican international to thank for a last minute save from a Vratislav Gresko free kick.