TROTTER OF THE TROTTERS WINS IT FOR WANDERERS!
Liam’s header makes the difference
BOLTON WANDERERS safely negotiated their first appearance in the first round of the FA Cup for more than 20 years with a narrow win against League Two Grimsby.
A first-half header from Liam Trotter ensured Wanderers will take their place in Monday’s second-round draw
And, given their rich run of form, no-one will relish facing Phil Parkinson’s title-chasing side as they won their seventh successive game in all competitions.
Parkinson said: “I knew Grimsby were a decent side as I’d seen the last couple of games they played, but when called upon our back four and goalkeeper were magnificent.
“There were certain aspects of our game in the second period which we are not happy with, but there are also elements of our play and our desire and commitment to make sure we got through that were very good.
“We had a lot of disruption during the week and we’re missing a lot of players, so we had to play players who have not had a lot of football recently.
“I thought we tired to a certain degree and got sloppy on the ball, but it keeps our run going and I’m very pleased we are in the hat.”
The hosts dominated the first half and should have had more than the one-goal lead the aptly-
named Trotter gave his side. Bolton almost scored in the fourth minute when Jamie Procter’s deflected strike cannoned off the post with James McKeown rooted to the spot. And from then on the chances came thick and fast with Zach Clough central to most of the good things to come from Wanderers as the highly-rated 21-year-old waged a private battle with the defiant McKeown.
Clough’s first chance came in the 18th minute when a delightful through ball from Chris Taylor found the midfielder in the box with only the keeper to beat, but his weak shot dribbled wide. Just before half-time Clough ran the length of the Grimsby half with the ball before McKeown dived to stop his low shot from the edge of the area. In between these moments the visitors offered very little evidence that they could cause an upset, despite the excellent backing of their travelling support. Their best effort came when Josh Gowling directed a bullet header narrowly wide from a Luke Summerfield corner.
A second Bolton goal felt inevitable as the excellent McKeown denied Procter twice after the break.
But it was Grimsby who came closest to scoring when Mark Howard tipped over a powerful point-blank effort from James Berrett.
Despite their narrow lead there was a complacency about Bolton as they relaxed and allowed the League Two outfit to come on to them almost paying for their attitude in the last five minutes when Howard made another fine save, diving to his right to deny Scott Vernon’s left-footed shot.
Grimsby’s caretaker manager Dave Moore, who is expected to make way for a new boss in the next seven days, added: “In the first 20 minutes it looked like we were going to get blown away.
“But after that I thought we played smashing – not only in the second half but in the last 20 minutes of the first.
“When the first goal went in you’re thinking ‘don’t fold, don’t collapse’ but we didn’t and we went on to threaten to get back into the game and I couldn’t be more pleased.
“I spoke to the chairman before the game and they are hoping to do something next week, so I’d be surprised if I’m in charge for another game. But the players gave their all for me.”