McFadzean ensures Pilgrims’ progress

RYAN LOWE’S return to the north west was a happy one as Callum McFadzean’s first-half strike earned Plymouth a place in the hat.

“I thought the best team won,” said the Pilgrims’ boss, formerly of Bury.

“Bolton have some good players, they are on a transition and trying to stay in the league.

“They are going to win more games than they lose. Overall though I thought we were the better team.

“It was a good performance and a very good win. We had to dig in straight from the second half because they went from back to front quite quickly.

“But our lads withstood that and the overall performance was fantastic.”

McFadzean, who followed Lowe from Gigg Lane to Devon, stuck after 11 minutes.

Byron Moore should have doubled the visitors’ advantage after 25 minutes, only for keeper Remi Matthews to win their one-on-one battle.

“It was a great worked goal,” added Lowe. “And we should have had another when Byron should have scored.”

Wanderers, chasing a fourth successive victory under Keith Hill, started brightly with Joe Dodoo and Chris O’Grady going close.

But McFadzean’s goal, after good approach play and cross by Danny Mayor, deflated the hosts who suffered their first, first round exit for 30 years.

Mayor and Josh Grant forced home keeper Matthews into decent saves as the visitors’ looked to double their lead.

Dodoo was denied by Argyle custodian Alex Palmer at the start of the second period and for all their possession, Bolton created little to save themselves from an early departure from the competition.

Hill made no excuses afterwards, saying: “We were deservedly beaten.

“And we were lucky to go in at half-time only 1-0 down thanks to a match winning save from Remi Matthews.

“Plymouth had our number. This was the first time I have looked at and thought it didn’t really resemble over 90 minutes a performance in and out of possession.

“It is disappointing, but we have got to accept it. I don’t think it is a game changer. Our priority has always been the league and will remain so. But the performance leaves a sour taste.”