WHATEVER else Jussi Jaaskelainen achieves in his time with Bolton Wanderers, he will forever be remembered as the goalkeeper who saved two penalties in a famous derby triumph over Blackburn Rovers.

Such are the events of which legends are made.

The more mature generation of supporters will recall a certain Ralph Gubbins, who wrote his name into Bolton folkore when, standing in for the injured Nat Lofthouse, he scored two goals in Wanderers' 1958 FA Cup semi-final victory over Blackburn at Maine Road. Gubbins is fondly remembered as the famous "12th Man" of the Wembley triumph when he stood down and watched the fit-again Lofthouse lead the side to a 2-0 win over Manchester United.

Two decades later it was Frank Worthington who was hailed the hero at Rovers' expense.

Flamboyant Frank went on to even greater fame by starring in the Division One "double" over Manchester United in the 78-79 season, but it was his promotion-clinching goal on a never-to-be-forgotten night at Ewood Park the season before that guaranteed him a special place in the hearts of Bolton supporters, who never tire of boasting "I was there!"

Now, thanks to Jaaskelainen's heroics in the dramatic closing minutes of yesterday's Ewood Park derby, a new generation of Wanderers fans - almost 7,000 of them - can claim that they were there to witness a truly remarkable individual performance and a thrilling team victory.

Not a convincing win, as the scoreline suggests, and one which had Sam Allardyce unashamedly raising his eyes to the heavens and thanking the "other forces" that came to his aid.

But to suggest that some form of divine intervention was responsible for Wanderers stretching their winning run in the Premiership to four games - three of which have come away from home - is to detract from Jaaskelainen's performance which, even before his two penalty saves in a thrilling finale, had been flawless.

Yet his saves from Morten Gamst Pedersen, Tugay and Benni McCarthy looked like they would be worth nothing more than a point when referee Mike Dean awarded Rovers their first spot-kick in the 87th minute after Jason Roberts went down under Quinton Fortune's challenge.

Wanderers were furious - Allardyce later claimed Roberts had dived - but the Mighty Finn stayed calm, stood his ground and pushed away McCarthy's shot. Mobbed by his team-mates and with the chants of the Bolton fans booming down the pitch from the Darwen End, Jaaskelainen thought he had secured the win by protecting the 63rd minute lead Ivan Campo had snatched by outwitting his markers to get a head to El-Hadji Diouf's corner.

But within two minutes he was back in the firing line as Mr Dean took exception to Gary Speed's challenge on Roberts. This time Roberts took the responsibility, but like McCarthy before him, he was foiled by a goalkeeper who, over the past five seasons, has grown in stature and confidence and is now ranked among the best in the business. Not without equal, but as good as the best in the Premiership, and the best in the Premiership are ranked among the best in the world.

Allardyce's smile broadened when it was suggested that his goalkeeper was "unsung". Of course he is, came the reply, he plays for Bolton Wanderers.

And Bolton Wanderers still have their detractors, even thought this sixth win in nine games strengthened their grip on third spot in the Premiership, just two points behind Manchester United and Chelsea.

In fairness, they were far from impressive, lucky in some respects, since Mark Hughes' Rovers, who went into the game on the back of a UEFA Cup victory over Wisla Krakow in Poland, did enough to have at least taken a share of the spoils.

They were convinced they should have had a goal in the 38th minute when Khisanishvli's header appeared to have crossed the line before Gary Speed cleared. But they missed chances - David Bentley squandering the best in the first half - and tired in the second, although Hughes argued that fatigue wasn't a factor.

Allardyce was convinced it was, and cited the more even contest in the second half as a sure sign that Rovers were tiring the longer the game wore on.

The Wanderers boss was worried at half time - and not only because he was forced into changes at the back when Abdoulaye Faye, still feeling the effects of a bang on the head he took in a second minute collision with Jaaskelainen, had to be whisked off to hospital as a precaution.

Wanderers had started brightly with Nicolas Anelka carving out three promising openings, the third of which saw Diouf slam a header against Brad Friedel's post.

But Rovers, who are developing impressively under Hughes, took charge and looked much the better side.

But any fears Allardyce had that the defensive changes would weaken his team's resilience were soon allayed. Tal Ben Haim switched seamlessly back to centre-half - his favoured position - and Fortune slotted in neatly at left back.

And, while Wanderers would have been happy with a point to maintain their unbeaten run, once they got their noses in front, they were determined it would stay that way.

Until the frenetic final minutes, which Allardyce described as bizarre and in which Kevin Nolan's frustration saw him booked for dissent then red carded for using foul and abusive language in the space of just two minutes, it all looked so encouragingly familiar.

A goal from a set-piece, then a display of resilience by a team that knows its business, that works so well together and which, as Hughes acknowledged, is as good as any at defending a lead.

Allardyce had forecast a ferocious derby, which would entertain the fans. And his prediction was spot on. Tickets prices were slashed by more than half but this would have been good value at double the money, although for the second year in a row, the Bolton boss left Ewood with serious misgivings about the officials.

Last season he accused Mike Riley of "almost causing a riot" and this time pointed to the five penalties awarded against Wanderers in five away games to voice suspicions that there was a conspiracy against them.

Nevertheless, Wanderers took their points total to 20 from nine games, and although the performance left much to be desired, a derby win in any circumstances is to be celebrated.

"The fans were brilliant and we've given them something to go home and be happy with," Allardyce said, "In the cold light of day, we do have to work at getting better. We're not stupid, we know we got away with it yesterday, but you've got to take it when it comes your way."

BLACKBURN 0 BOLTON 1