Bolton Wanderers put their poor league form to one side as they defeated local rivals Blackpool on Saturday in the FA Cup to set up a fourth round home tie with Premier League side Cardiff City.
Goals from David Ngog and Jermaine Beckford were enough for the Trotters to overcome Paul Ince’s side 2-1 in a repeat of the 1953 FA Cup final in front of a small crowd at the Reebok Stadium.
Only 11,180 fans came to watch the Trotters third round victory but boss Dougie Freedman made sure his side took the competition seriously in order to come through in an old-fashioned cup tie.
“There is a great history in this competition between these two clubs and I am really pleased we are in the next round,” Freedman told the Bolton Wanderers website.
“Our honesty and hard work got us through to the next round and overall it’s a great result for the club.”
Bolton took the lead thanks to a superb 25-yard effort from striker David Ngog inside ten minutes but were pegged back quickly by a Tom Barkhuizen goal for the Tangerines.
The Trotters though struck early in the second half through Jermaine Beckford to regain their lead which they managed to hold onto despite a very open half.
Freedman was especially pleased with the way his side saw out the game and held onto their lead something which his Bolton side have struggled to do at home this season.
“The score could have quite easily finished 4-4 after we both had one or two counter attacks but we showed we can control games through possession and discipline.”
Freedman will now come up against another former Manchester United player in the form of Cardiff boss Ole Gunnar Solskjaer.
The United legend got off to a perfect start in charge of the turbulent south Wales club as they came back from a goal down to beat Newcastle 2-1 at St James’ Park.
Solskjaer’s men will travel to Reebok on the weekend commencing January 25 to face a Bolton side that will be looking for a Premier League scalp as they bid to please disgruntled fans with a cup run.
Image courtesy of BWFC Official via YouTube, with thanks.
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