Squatting defiantly at the top of the table, Bolton Wanderers maintained their remarkable return to football's top tier to leave the rest of the Premiership playing catch-up once again last night.
Lucas Neill equalised with a header for Blackburn two minutes from time but a debut goal from Rod Wallace, who scored with a flashing header only six minutes after emerging as a second-half substitute, helped Bolton leapfrog Leeds.
Blackburn had the better of the opening half, in terms of possession at least, but seldom displayed the penetrative edge to get behind a Bolton side that had yet to concede an away goal this season.
Given the history between these two clubs, not to mention some recent tetchiness in their First Division quarrels, the placid nature of the game was a disappointment.
Republic of Ireland star Damien Duff, perhaps the Premiership's most in-form player, continued to drive Blackburn forward in a much improved second half but his excellent supply of crosses from the left flank was too often wasted by his colleagues and when he went through himself, just before the hour, the winger scuffed his shot tamely wide.
Such profligacy could prove costly in the long run and there is certainly a case that Grabbi, the £6.75m summer recruit from Ternana, has done little as yet to justify his price tag.
The Italian wears number 21 to show how many goals he accumulated in finishing Serie B's leading scorer last season. Blackburn can only hope they don't have to reserve the number three jersey for next season.
BLACKBURN ROVERS (3-5-2): Friedel; Neill, Berg, Bjornebye; Johnson, Tugay, Flitcroft, Mahon (McAteer, 56min), Duff; Grabbi, Jansen.
BOLTON WANDERERS (4-3-2-1): Jaaskelainen; Barness, Bergsson, Whitlow, Charlton; Nolan, Warhurst, Pedersen; Hansen (Holdsworth, h-t), Gardner; Ricketts.
Referee: J Winter
