Skipper Gary Cahill heralded a ‘massive three points’ as Bolton beat their fellow strugglers to move away from the foot of the table.

First-half goals from midfielder Mark Davies and Nigel Reo-Coker eased the pressure on manager Owen Coyle as Rovers boss Steve Kean faces the dole queue before Christmas.

Yakubu’s 11th of the season ensured Wanderers lived on their nerves until the final whistle as Christopher Samba put a stoppage-time header fractionally wide.

But Bolton were good value for only their fourth win of the campaign.

And with back-to-back home games against Newcastle and Wolves to follow, they have a good chance to climb out of the relegation zone.

"You saw the build-up to this game and we desperately needed this win," added Cahill.

"But we are still in the bottom three and it’s going to be a tough season. However, we’ve got crucial home games, so let’s hope we can battle like we did tonight."

Relieved Coyle added: "I’ve got a few more grey hairs after tonight. We made it more difficult than I thought we needed to.

"But it was our biggest game of the season because we had to win tonight and draw a line under what had gone on previously."

However, Wanderers’ wins came at a price, losing left back Marcos Alonso with a suspected broken foot.

Certainly Bolton fans put their team’s previous poor form behind them and were in good voice before kick-off. Their ranks were swelled by Stuart Holden joining them in the Darwen End.

In contrast, the game was barely a minute old before the first chants of ‘Kean out’ reverberated around the rest of the ground.

And when Davies broke the deadlock inside five minutes both groups of fans crowed: "Sacked in the morning."

Bolton haven’t lost this season when they’ve been in front first, so the former Wolves midfielder’s opening goal of the campaign was manna from heaven for beleaguered Coyle. And Wanderers’ second through Reo-Coker after 29 minutes really turned the natives restless.

Indeed, it was only two years ago when fan power was the catalyst for Gary Megson’s sacking at the Reebok Stadium.

Reo-Coker started and finished a move involving Klasnic and Martin Petrov, turning smartly to beat Paul Robinson from six yards.

Blackburn offered little in reply, until Yakubu beat the offside trap, turned Cahill and shot beyond Jussi Jaaskelainen.

However, the Premier League’s worst defence held firm to give Coyle some much needed pre-Christmas cheer.

BOLTON: Jaaskelainen 6, Steinsson 6, Cahill 6, Knight 7, Alonso 7 (Robinson 56), M Davies 8, Muamba 6, Reo-Coker 7, Petrov 7, Klasnic 6 (Pratley 81), Ngog 6 (Tuncay 71). Not used: Bogdan, Eagles, K Davies, Boyata.

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