BOLTON boss Sam Allardyce launched a furious outburst at referee Mike Riley's handling of the feisty Lancashire derby against Blackburn after he sent off one Wanderers' player and booked four others

Big Sam was fuming at the Leeds official's lack of consistency in the 0-0 stalemate and accused him of nearly starting a riot with some of his decisions.

Some ugly scenes ensued as scuffles broke out between rival fans in the Blackburn end after half-time before order was restored.

Allardyce's comments are likely to land him in hot water with the Football Association.

According to him, Bolton have had five players depart for an early bath at the hands of Riley in the Premiership, four of them seeing red in the first half.

And despite a foul count of 17 by Blackburn to Bolton's 15, the Ewood Park outfit only had two players booked to the anger of Wanderers' management.

Hidetoshi Nakata was sent off for two bookable offences, clumsy rather than malicious tackles which several years ago may have warranted a talking to from the referee or one yellow card at most.

However the football authorities have sought to sanitise the sport and physical contact seems to be a thing of the past so the Japanese international departed just after the half-hour mark.

Statistics

The situation was not helped by Blackburn's wind-up merchant Robbie Savage, who made sure he fell theatrically every time he was fouled.

However, Bolton could have no complaints about the yellow card Joey O'Brien received for a late challenge on defender Ryan Nelson.

Allardyce said: "I see it like this. Hidestoshi Nakata committed three fouls and got sent off; Robbie Savage committed three fouls and didn't get booked. That's nothing against Robbie Savage. The statistics don't stand up, unfortunately, when Mike Riley referees us.

"He's nearly caused a riot here.

"I think all managers have probably got one referee who they can pull similar situations with. Mike Riley has a particularly poor record against us, there has to be something wrong in his make-up against Bolton or against me. "He's got something wrong in terms of his subconscious, he has to have - just look at the bookings. I think there is something wrong there."

Allardyce shuffled his pack after the sending off and Mexican striker Jared Borgetti, making his first appearance in the Premiership, was sacrificed for midfielder Ivan Campo.

Blackburn rattled the woodwork and had one effort cleared off the line in the second half but Bolton weathered the storm with centre backs Bruno N'gotty and Tal Ben Haim in outstanding form.

And they had the best chance when sub Ricardo Vaz Te, put through by Kevin Davies, slipped after rounding the keeper.

Captain Kevin Nolan said: "Being down to 10 men we knew it was going to be tough. Hopefully we can get back to winning ways at the Reebok against Manchester City on Saturday."

BOLTON (4-4-2): Jaaskelainen: Made some important saves. 7; O'Brien: Booked for a poor tackle on Nelsen. 6; N'Gotty: Rock solid performance at the heart of the defence. 7; Ben Haim: Made some vital headed clearances. 7; Gardner: Defended well especially in the second half. 7; Fadiga: Made his presence felt. 6; Nakata: Unlucky to be sent off for two bookable offences. 4; Stelios: Hard working display before being taken off. 6; Nolan: Refused to let wind up merchant Savage get to him. 7; Borgetti: First start in the Premiership cut short by tactical substitution after the sending off. 6; Davies: Battling performance in the lone striker role and never gave up. 8.

Substitutes: Campo (35 mins Borgetti): Used his experience to help steady the ship. 6; Vaz Te (Stelios 62 mins): Missed Bolton's best chance after slipping after rounding the keeper. 6; Jansen (Fadiga 78 mins): Bolton debut against old club and battled for the cause. 6.

BLACKBURN (4-4-2): Friedel, Neill, Todd, Nelsen, Emerton (Kuqi 64) Savage, Dickov (Bellamy 71), Pedersen, Reid, Bentley, Gray.

Bookings: Bolton - Nakata (15, 33), Fadiga (32) O'Brien (39), N'Gotty (70) Jaaskelainen (78): Blackburn, Reid (45) Bentley (90)

Sendings off: Nakata (33)

Referee: Mr M Riley

Attendance: 18,180

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