STEVE Kean admits Blackburn Rovers failed to cope with the ‘Muamba factor’ at the Reebok Stadium on Saturday after seeing his side dragged back into the relegation mire.

Bolton’s deserved 2-1 win leaves Rovers just three points clear of the drop zone and, with Manchester United up next at Ewood Park, anxiously looking over their shoulders.

Wigan’s shock weekend win at Anfield sees themselves and QPR just three points below Rovers and, with Bolton just two behind with a game in hand, a tense season finale is expected.

A brace of first half David Wheater headers gave the hosts a 2-0 half time lead and, despite Steven Nzonzi’s second half strike, the Trotters marked their return to action with victory.

Kean described his side’s performance as “way below par” after seeing their two-match winning streak abruptly ended but believes the wave of emotion surrounding the clash after Muamba’s collapse and subsequent recovery got to his players.

Kean said: “I said to the lads before the game we want Fabrice to make a dramatic recovery but we have business to do. We weren’t at our levels.

“The atmosphere inside the ground was always going to be good, we wanted to wish our best to Fabrice, but what we said to the players was once whistle goes make sure we have our standards that we did against Sunderland and Wolves.

“I didn’t think we matched their tempo. I think the occasion can be looked upon as a reason. We tried to tell the lads to try and separate the occasion from the football match but failed to do that.

“We give him all the well wishes we can and would have supported them if they wanted to postpone the game but I was trying to say to the lads just play the match, not the occasion.

“But I do think the Bolton players were playing with a spring in their step and once they got their noses in front it was difficult. We did not cope with the occasion.”

All eyes were on the Reebok Stadium on Saturday after a traumatic week that has seen the world of football pass on their best wishes to Muamba.

And Kean admits it felt as though Rovers were playing against more than just Bolton.

“All neutrals all over the place were saying ‘I hope Bolton win today’,” he said. “That has maybe given their players a bit of inner confidence and a spring in their step.

“It wasn’t in the script for us to win because the script was for Bolton to win. We were really pushing at the end and the lads were trying to get something from the game.

“I think we were much better second half but first half was not our usual standard.”