Bolton drew first blood on six minutes when striker Kevin Davies netted from close range after getting on the end of a cross from the left.
Swedish international striker Johan Elmander made it 2-0 on 11 minutes, beating keeper Neil Sullivan with a
low shot from the edge of the area.
Stuart Elliott tested the Bolton keeper, who did well to turn the ball round the near post for a 20th minute corner, with a powereful shot from just outside the area.
Midfielder Fabrice Muamba added to Bolton's tally on 34 minutes, beating Sullivan from around 35 yards.
The visitors eased into a 4-0 lead a minute later when midfielder Joey O'Brien scored from the edge of the area.
Rovers brought on big guns Brian Stock, Richie Wellens and James Coppinger as they started the second half with eight changes. Bolton showed just one change, Adam Bogdan taking over in goal.
Rovers had most of the play in the opening stages, but had to wait until the 59th minute for their first shot of note on target - the Bolton keeper making a comfortable save from Stock.
Elmander added to the visitors' tally, steering the ball home from full-back Gretar Steinsson's low cross, and but for a geat save by Sullivan, Matt Taylor would have made it 6-0 with a 20 yarder.
n Rovers: Sullivan, O'Connor Hird, Mills, Roberts, Wilson, Spicer, Woods, Elliott, Heffernan, Taylor. Replacements (all used), Keogh, Issoumaila, Boyce, Stock, Wellens, Coppinger, Guy, Ameobi, Hayter, Nelthorpe
Bolton: Jaaskelainen, Steinsson, Samuel, Nolan, Cahill, Andy O'Brien, Taylor, O'Brien, Elmander, Davies, Muamba. Replacements (all used) Bogdan, Riga, Obadeyi.
Attendance: 3,535
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