Bolton 2-0 Macclesfield - Simpson gives credit to League 2 side | FA Cup 3rd Round

2014-06-02 11

Kevin Davies netted his first goal since November as Bolton moved into the fourth round of the FA Cup with a narrow win over luckless Macclesfield.

Davies took less than a minute to open the scoring from Ivan Klasnic's cross before Martin Petrov collected Tuncay's pass to fire in from 20 yards.

Macclesfield were by far the better side after the break but could not find a way past goalkeeper Adam Bogdan.

Owen Coyle's men hung on and will now host Swansea City in the next round.

The second-half display from the Premier League side was poor and will concern Coyle, who must now prepare his men for the visit of Liverpool this weekend.

League Two Macclesfield caused Wanderers no end of problems in the 2-2 draw at Moss Rose 10 days ago, but made a disastrous start as Davies scored after just 36 seconds.

Right-back Jonathan Bateson was the guilty party as he fell over attempting to make a routine clearance, and Klasnic was ruthless as he powered into the area before picking out Davies to slide in at the near post.

Macclesfield made no impact at all in the remainder of the first period and Petrov looked to have settled the tie before the half-hour mark when he ran onto an excellent Tuncay pass to crack a shot past goalkeeper Jose Veiga from the edge of the penalty area.

Petrov and Tuncay - making a rare start since his summer move from Wolfsburg - had both scored in Bolton's Carling Cup defeat of the Silkmen back in August and were the stand-out performers in the first 45 minutes.

But Macclesfield were a different outfit after the break, aided by the introduction of Wade Fairhurst as a second striker to partner Colin Daniel.

Midfielder Matt Hamshaw shot just over when Bolton failed to deal with a long throw, before Fairhurst squandered a chance to convert a cross from Carl Tremarco.

Tremarco then drew a fine save from Bogdan at his near post before 17-year-old full-back Elliott Hewitt came within inches of finding the net when his dipping volley deflected off Kev