ROD Wallace wore the smile of a starstruck teenager after emerging from the football wilderness to make a fairytale comeback at Ewood Park last night.

The former Southampton and Leeds striker - a Championship winner under Howard Wilkinson at Elland Road nine years ago but without a club since being released by Glasgow Rangers in May - came off the substitutes' bench to score the goal that took Wanderers back to the top of the Premiership.

His 69th minute header was not enough to claim victory in a pulsating derby duel - Lucas Neill's 87th minute equaliser ensured Rovers banked a point for their efforts - but it could be the sign of things to come from the 31-year-old hit man.

"It's great to be back playing again, great to be back in England and great to be back in the Premiership," Wallace said after putting Wanderers ahead just six minutes after being thrown into the fray by the adventurous Sam Allardyce, who had only secured his signature 48 hours earlier.

"To be involved with the team and to get a shout as sub was a great experience and to score a goal as well made it a great day for me.

"It's just a shame we didn't get the result."

Wallace, who has been training on his own since leaving Ibrox, did not know he would be on the bench until he arrived at Ewood with his new team-mates. He had been told he was not ready for the Premiership but the manager's decision to send him on in place of Michael Ricketts with just over an hour played paid handsome dividends as he met Ricardo Gardner's left-wing corner with a gem of a header that flew past Rovers' keeper Brad Friedel.

"It was a surprise because fitness-wise I'm going to be behind," Wallace admitted, "but I'm willing to play any time.

"That's what I want to do for Bolton now - and hopefully I can score a few more goals."

Allardyce, who delights in getting the best out of other clubs' cast-offs and misfits, was thrilled to see his new recruit make an instant impact.

"I'm sure he was as excited as when he made his debut as a kid," the manager beamed. "But his track record is there for all to see. That's why I brought him to the club. The more goal-getters you have in your side, the better you will do.

"He found space in a very tight area, lost his marker well and scored with a very good header."

Despite nudging ahead of Leeds on goal difference to regain top spot they lost at the weekend when they were surprisingly beaten by Southampton at the Reebok, Wanderers left Ewood disappointed at failing to secure all three points.

They defended well with Gudni Bergsson and Mike Whitlow again outstanding at the heart of the back four but they had to endure spells of pressure and were fortunate when Corrado Grabbi rattled the crossbar and dashing Damien Duff shaved the outside of Jussi Jaaskelainen's right hand post.

But they were punished for momentarily dropping their guard when Neill powered in at the back post to head home Duff's corner.

"I class it as two points dropped," Allardyce said. "All we had to do was do our jobs right but we lost a little concentration when we should have seen the game out."

Wanderers are adamant Rovers should not have had the corner in the first place, insisting Matt Jansen was offside when he brought the save of the match out of Jaaskelainen from point blank range.

"The goal came from that corner and our players claim bitterly that he was offside," the manager complained. "I will have a look at the video before I send in my report on the officials but they could have a lot to answer for. If that is the case it is the officials who have cost us two points ... and not the player who should have marked Lucas Neill."

The only complaint Graeme Souness had was that his defenders failed to prevent the diminutive Wallace playing such a big part.

"We walloped them (Bolton) several times last year and played better against them this time and only managed to draw," the Rovers' boss groaned.

"We played some wonderful stuff but for the smallest man on the pitch to score with his head from a set-piece just shouldn't happen. That's the only critical thing I can say though. We absolutely 'mullered' them as my trendy young players say. I would bet no team has created as many chances against Bolton this season. Give them credit for keeping going but the game should have been done and dusted before they got the goal.

"At 1-0 down with 10 minutes to go I'm thinking 'If we get something out of this I'll be pleased' but right now ... I feel frustrated."

Allardyce had said the measure of his team's character and their credentials as a Premiership side would be measured by the way they responded to the Southampton defeat and, in that respect at least, he should be happy.

He tore up his original game plan when Nicky Southall, who had been expected to stand in for the injured Per Frandsen in midfield, was ruled out with a hamstring injury. To make best use of the players available, he switched to a 4-4-2 formation rather than the familiar 4-5-1 pattern and the players adapted well.

Whether out of necessity or not, it made for an exciting derby in which at 0-0 in the second half Wanderers were operating with four players - Wallace, Gardner, Dean Holdsworth and Henrik Pedersen - in forward positions.

In addition to Jaaskelainen, who was harshly booked for time-wasting, Wanderers had Bo Hansen, Paul Warhurst and Wallace cautioned for dissent but the manager felt there were mitigating circumstances in the heat of the derby duel. "It's all right asking players to keep their mouths shut," he said, "but how can you when decisions are going against you? People will keep their tempers if decisions are made on a consistent basis."