Bolton ease past Solihull Moors as Ian Evatt ends FA Cup hoodoo

By Sports Desk November 04, 2023

Ian Evatt secured his first ever FA Cup managerial win as League One Bolton hammered National League Solihull Moors 4-0 at the Toughsheet Community Stadium.

Goals from skipper Ricardo Santos, Paris Maghoma, Will Forrester and substitute Dion Charles, who also had a penalty saved, earned Evatt overdue success after five previous knockouts, including three with the Trotters.

The four-time cup winners had not enjoyed victory in the competition since 2019 when, as a Championship club, they beat Walsall 5-2.

Solihull, who finished with 10 men after captain Jamey Osborne’s stoppage-time dismissal, never threatened to inflict more misery on Evatt or his club.

On-loan teenager Tommy Simkin saved from Maghoma, who also hit the bar, and Dan Nlundulu before Ricardo headed in Aaron Morley’s 39th-minute corner.

Maghoma made it 2-0 in the 51st minute after James Clarke cleared off the line from Jon Dadi Bodvarsson.

Wanderers keeper Nathan Baxter, a one-time teenage Moors loanee, made a rare save to deny Richard Stearman after 58 minutes.

Forrester netted his maiden Trotters goal after 69 minutes and though Charles was denied by Simkin from the spot, he atoned three minutes from time.

Related items

  • Vlahovic: 'Easier' to play for Serbia than Juventus Vlahovic: 'Easier' to play for Serbia than Juventus

    Dusan Vlahovic says he finds it "easier" to play in Serbia's tactical approach than at Juventus.

    The striker has started all 16 games since Thiago Motta took over this season, scoring nine goals in all competitions, with six of those coming in Serie A.

    His recent form saw him recalled to Serbia's squad for the Nations League matches this international break, and he got an assist for their equaliser in a 1-1 draw with Switzerland on Saturday.

    Overall, Vlahovic has racked up 50 goals at Juve since his move from Fiorentina in January 2022, but he seemingly suggested his game would improve in a different system.

    Motta favours a 4-2-3-1 system, with Vlahovic playing as a lone striker, whereas on international duty, he plays as part of a front two, most recently alongside Aleksandar Mitrovic.

    "It is a bit easier for me when there is another striker because Mitrovic holds up the ball and engages in aerial duels, so I can make more of my own characteristics and qualities," Vlahovic told RSI when asked the differences between playing for Serbia and Juventus.

    "The coach also does not require many defensive duties from me, so that makes it easier too.

    "With my physicality, I can't really run that much and am not as fresh in my finishing when I've been working so hard."

  • Everton clinch Merseyside derby win in Goodison Park's WSL farewell Everton clinch Merseyside derby win in Goodison Park's WSL farewell

    Everton claimed their first Women's Super League victory of the season by overcoming rivals Liverpool 1-0 in Sunday's Merseyside derby.

    Katja Snoeijs converted a contentiously awarded penalty late in the first half at Goodison Park, and despite handing the initiative to Liverpool for much of the game, Everton came away with a much-needed win that lifted them off the foot of the table.

    Honoka Hayashi's goal against Crystal Palace in Everton's previous fixture had ended a run of 611 minutes without a Toffees player netting in the WSL, and the Japanese midfielder was the player fouled by her compatriot Fuka Nagano, with the referee pointing to the spot despite the challenge seemingly taking place just outside the box.

    Liverpool, who attempted 569 passes – their highest total this season – could not find the equaliser despite mustering 17 shots and 1.5 expected goals (xG), with 0.78 of Everton's 0.9 xG taken up by Snoeijs' spot-kick.

    Reds boss Matt Beard has now failed to win any of his last eight meetings with Everton in the WSL since winning 2-1 away from home with West Ham in October 2018 (D2 L5).

    Everton, meanwhile, won at Goodison Park in the WSL for the first time at the fifth attempt, in what was their final match in the competition at the iconic stadium.

    Aston Villa edged out Palace 3-2 in a five-goal thriller at Villa Park, with Ebony Salmon scoring a last-gasp winner.

    Villa looked set to be denied their first win of the season when Annabel Blanchard made it 2-2 with just four minutes remaining.

    Yet Salmon popped up in the 94th minute to lash home after pouncing on a loose ball on the edge of Palace's area.

    My Cato put Palace ahead on the half-hour, but quickfire goals from Anna Patten and Rachel Daly put Villa ahead at the break.

    Villa are now unbeaten in their last seven WSL matches against promoted teams, while manager Robert de Pauw avoided becoming the first boss since Jonathan Morgan in November 2021 to fail to win his first eight games in charge of a team in the competition.

    In Sunday's other game, Manchester United downed Leicester City 2-0 to get back to winning ways after a run of three straight draws.

    Norwegian duo Elisabeth Terland and Celin Bizet Ildhusoy got the goals for the Red Devils at the King Power Stadium, with Marc Skinner's side in fifth, six points adrift of leaders Chelsea, though the same number of points ahead of Liverpool in sixth.

    Matters might have been different had Leicester's Hannah Cain not squandered a golden chance in the 38th minute when she somehow fired wide from point-blank range.

  • Tottenham's Odobert undergoes hamstring surgery Tottenham's Odobert undergoes hamstring surgery

    Tottenham have confirmed that Wilson Odobert has undergone surgery for a hamstring injury.

    The 19-year-old joined Spurs from Burnley in August and made five appearances in all competitions for the north London side.

    He managed just 162 minutes in his three Premier League matches, creating three chances in that time, but has not featured in the competition since their 1-0 loss to Arsenal in mid-September.

    His last appearance was a two-minute cameo in the Europa League group stage amid ongoing hamstring problems.

    "We can confirm that Wilson Odobert underwent surgery to his right hamstring yesterday (Saturday 16th November)," Spurs said on social media.

    "The 19-year-old will continue to be closely monitored by our medical team to determine when he can return to training."

© 2024 SportsMaxTV All Rights Reserved.