By Andy Neild BOLTON WANDERERS 1 Ricketts 84 ROVERS 4 Bent 45, Dunn 74, Jansen 81, Hignett 89 ENGLAND boss Sven Goran Eriksson was treated to a vision of the future last night as Rovers young guns David Dunn and Matt Jansen destroyed Bolton in a stunning second half goal-blitz at the Reebok.

Dunn was nothing more than a glint in the eye of Academy Director Bobby Downes when the Swede reneged on the chance to manage Rovers a couple of seasons ago.

But now the 21-year-old has matured into one of the brightest up-and-coming midfield talents in the country.

And his performance last night must have left the onlooking England boss drooling on the day he launched the first phase of his plans to lead the nation into an exciting new dawn.

Just hours before kick off, Dunn discovered he had retained the England Under 21 captaincy as Eriksson named the first two squads of his England reign. But many more displays like this from the Great Harwood-born youngster and he could soon be knocking on the door of the senior squad.

His energy and invention in midfield provided the platform for a victory which gives Rovers a major psychological edge as they enter the run-in.

And, if they achieve their goal of a Premiership return, then expect Eriksson to make a few more calls to Ewood next season.

"There was a lot of hype surrounding this game so it was just good to get out there and put in a decent performance," said Dunn.

"I'd heard Sven was going to be here but you've just got to play your own game.

"If you try too hard to impress, a lot of the time you'll fall flat on your face.

"So I just wanted to go out there and do what I try to do week in, week out.

"As I've said before, it's a great honour to even be in the England Under 21 squad -- never mind made captain.

"But I've just got to go to Birmingham and make sure I do well in front of him again on Tuesday now."

It's not been a good week for Trotters.

First, the pig-farming industry was left reeling by the news that foot and mouth disease could be ready to sweep the nation. Now Bolton have seen the nine-point cushion separating them and the play-off pack slashed in half.

But Wanderers boss Sam Allardyce can have few complaints with his side as they perished in the heat of a scorching second half display from a rampant Rovers.

If Tuesday night's victory at Watford was a massive shot in the arm for Graeme Souness and his squad, then this result will have sent shockwaves reverberating through the rest of the Division.

And it was the performance of Rovers' youngsters which really caught the eye.

Dunn and Alan Mahon were simply awesome alongside Garry Flitcroft in the centre of midfield as Wanderers lost the battle in the engine room.

And Jansen's partnership with Marcus Bent up front is beginning to look like a marriage made in heaven as they terrorised an overworked Bolton defence with a devastating combination of power and pace.

Souness, understandably, was elated.

But the Rovers boss was quick to keep things in perspective.

"We've got some good young players at the club and that's something that's often overlooked when this club is mentioned," said Souness. "When people talk about Blackburn Rovers, money's always the main thing that's mentioned.

"But we've got some good young legs in the right places -- just as we've got some old heads in key positions. "And, if they keep working hard, then we can go on from here.

"But I've been in the game long enough to know the minute you start thinking you're a good player or a good team, something will come along to make you change your mind very quickly."

Rovers had to stand up and be counted during an uncomfortable opening half hour as Wanderers asked all the questions.

But they successfully weathered the storm after the woodwork came to the rescue in the 25th minute. Muscular striker Dean Holdsworth -- a constant threat all night -- spun on a cross from Bo Hansen but his shot on the turn rebounded off Brad Friedel's left-hand post with the big American well beaten.

That was the closest Bolton came in a nervy opening 45 minutes but they were suddenly rocked to the core by a bolt out of the blue in first half stoppage time.

Jansen picked out Dunn with a cushioned header and the England hopeful's clever flick found Bent who steadied his aim before shooting calmy past Steve Banks from 12 yards.

Rovers stepped up a gear after the break as Mahon drew smart saves from Banks with two long-range blockbusters.

Sensing the game was slipping away, Wanderers boss Allardyce switched to a 3-5-2 formation and threw on Simon Charlton and Michael Ricketts in a bid to pep things up.

But the visitors' pressure finally told when the crucial second arrived in the 74th minute.

Jansen sprung the offside trap before cutting in from the left and, though his shot was parried, Dunn was on hand to slot home the rebound after darting between two defenders.

That shattered Bolton's spirit and, as they lost all shape, Jansen took full advantage, racing onto substitute Craig Hignett's pass before dummying Banks and scoring with a cheeky chip in the 81st minute.

The home fans finally had something to cheer when Ricketts tucked away his 20th of the season after seizing onto a sloppy John Curtis backpass with six minutes left.

But it was left to Hignett to supply the Coup de Grace when he stepped up to curl home an unstoppable free kick in the last minute.

It was the perfect ending to a perfect week.