Sam Allardyce was barred on doctor's orders from returning to his old stamping ground of Bolton while he awaits a minor heart operation, but if he allowed himself a peek on the telly, it would have provided just the tonic.
In his absence, Blackburn Rovers did him proud, deservedly winning this ÂLancashire derby with a first-half goal from the irrepressible David Dunn, back to his best, and one of the most comical own goals of the season by the Bolton defender Sam Ricketts. It is Bolton's manager, Gary Megson, his side stuck in the bottom three, who had most cause to check his blood pressure.
Neil McDonald, Allardyce's assistant, suggested that the manager's withdrawal from the frontline as he prepares for an operation at the end of this week is, at best, tenuous. "Hopefully, we have taken a little bit of stress away and put a smile on his face," he said. "Sam looks after himself â€" he has check-ups regularly because of the stress of the job. I spoke to Sam last night and again before the game. I haven't had time to check my phone yet, but I'm sure I'll be talking a few more times yet."
While Allardyce awaits his angioplasty and the full skills of the medical profession, Bolton, like a nurse with bad habits, cannot even manage a clean sheet. They have not had one all season and their fourth successive defeat, during which time they have leaked 15 goals, leaves them the most vulnerable of Lancashire's quartet of Premier League clubs.
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