Kean on the brink?

Bolton Wanderers leapfrogged Blackburn Rovers in the Premier League table with a vital 2-1 victory at Ewood Park, a defeat which could spell the end for Blackburn boss Steve Kean.

Blackburn fans hurled abuse at Kean from the start and many believe his position is becoming untenable.

Former Ewood Park favourite Kevin Gallacher said: "To me, it's now becoming untenable. At this moment in time the club is going into the abyss. There's a fear factor about what's going to happen to the club. I'm very worried about it."

The game itself got off to the worst possible start for Blackburn and Kean. In the fifth minute, David Ngog found Mark Davies and the Bolton midfielder coolly finished past Paul Robinson.

Things went from bad to worse for the home side on the half-hour. Morten Gamst Pedersen failed to deal with Martin Petrov's cross and Nigel Reo-Coker squeezed his shot past Robinson and into the back of the net. The intense atmosphere which had been building all game reached fever pitch and Kean was the man at the centre of it all. People who have placed a football bet on the side will be wondering how much longer he has left.

Blackburn came out fighting in the second half as they looked to get the point they needed to avoid the dubious honour of being bottom at Christmas. Yakubu did get one back midway through the half, but Kean's men couldn't find another way past Jussi Jaaskelainen and fell to a second successive home defeat.

Bolton's elation was in sharp contrast to the hostility directed at Kean. Owen Coyle's side were off the bottom and their fans could find hope in their spirited performance.

For Blackburn, hope is disappearing fast and time is running out for Kean. Trips to Anfield and Old Trafford come next. It is not getting any easier.