Bolton Wanderers 2 Blackpool 1 match report: Transfer-linked David Ngog helps Wanderers through to fourth round

striker has been linked with a move away from the Reebok but was on hand with a goal and assist to send Bolton through

Saturday 04 January 2014 13:25 EST
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Wanted man David Ngog helped Bolton through to the fourth round of the FA cup with an inspired performance in a 2-1 at home victory to Blackpool.

The French striker, who has been heavily linked with a move away from the Reebok Stadium, put Wanderers ahead with a magnificent strike early on.

Blackpool then hit-back with at the end of the first half through Tom Barkhuizen's curled strike from range.

But Ngog's assist to Jermaine Beckford in the second half was enough to see the Trotters through, despite the Tangerines pressing hard for a late equaliser.

Neil Danns came straight back into the Bolton team after re-joining from parent club Leicester for the remainder of the season.

Blackpool boss Paul Ince was forced to make two changes with Chris Basham and Tom Barkhuizen coming into the starting line-up.

Both teams started the game brightly, with efforts from Tangerines' Angel Martinez and then Bolton's Beckford just inches wide in the opening minutes.

But the Trotters then started to emerge as the more dominant in attack, and, just 10 minutes in, they took the lead with a wonder goal.

Ngog picked up the ball 40-yards away from goal and skipped past two visiting defenders before rifling the ball into the top right corner from range.

The home side were now in charge of the match, and came close to doubling their lead when Andre Moritz's drilled free-kick clipped the outside of the post.

But they failed to press home their advantage, which the visitors controversially made them pay for on the stroke of half time.

On the right wing, Barkhuizen cut back on to his left foot and then magnificently curled the ball past Andy Lonergan.

Celebrations were then cut short as the assistant referee had his flag up for interference in the build-up. However, after consultation with referee Simon Hooper, the goal stood, to the disgust of the Wanderers players, who now went into the break with the scores level.

Blackpool then came out on the front foot in the second half, as the Trotters scrambled clear another Martinez effort. That was to be their downfall, though, as from the resulting break, Bolton retook the lead.

Ngog battled with Gary Mackenzie and won the ball deep in the Tangerines area before he squared it to Beckford, who slid it into the net.

The visitors then stared to pile on the pressure. Firstly, they went close through Ince's deflected effort after he had waltzed past two defenders. Then Ricardo Fuller's shot, which Lonergan parried into the head of Chris Basham, who could only deflect the ball on to the post.

Basham had another chance to force a reply when he connected with Neal Bishop's dangerous ball in. A breathtaking save from Lonergan, though, made sure that Wanderers went through.

PA

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