Bolton Wanderers bowed out of the Emirates FA Cup at the First Round after Callum McFadzean early strike gave Plymouth Argyle the victory at the University of Bolton Stadium.
The midfielder put the visitors in front after ten minutes with a powerful strike past former Pilgrims’ loanee Remi Matthews for the only goal of the game.
Manager Keith Hill named a strong XI making just one enforced change from the side that beat Fleetwood Town a week earlier.
Sonny Graham came in for Thibaud Verlinden who was left out at the request of Stoke City to avoid him being cup-tied.
Wanderers got off to a bright start and looked sharp. Joe Dodoo broke down the right and created space with a smart stepover before curling his shot wide.
A couple of minutes later and Josh Emmanuel drilled a cross over the face of the Plymouth six-yard box with Daryl Murphy unable to connect.
Daryl Murphy chased down ‘keeper Alex Palmer and almost nicked the ball off the shot stopper who only just managed to clear the ball away.
But complete against the run of play, and the visitors found themselves in front.
The goal inevitably sprung Plymouth into life and then almost had a second when Matthews made a good save to keep out a Danny Mayor effort.
Another fine save from Matthews kept out Joel Grant’s low drive which looked destined for the bottom left corner.
Matthew made an even better save when Byron Moore latched onto a loose backpass from Daryl Murphy after the Plymouth forward found himself one on one with the Wanderers gloveman.
A big chance came for the hosts moments later when Emmanuel found Darly Murphy at the back post who in turn nodded into the path of Dodoo. The forward was unable to wrap his foot around the ball and the chance ebbed away.
Palmer then managed to block another Doodoo effort after Luke Mutphy teed up his team-mate.
Plymouth survived a massive handball shout when Luke Murphy flicked the ball against what appeared to be the arm of a Pilgrims’ defender.
Five minutes after the restart, Palmer was once again in the thick of the action and thwarted Dodoo by tipping a volley over the bar after latching on to Graham’s cross.
The hard working Chris O’Grady forced Palmer into another save after picking the ball up from distance with his back to goal and charging towards goal before unleashing a goalbound strike.
Chances were few and far between for both sides and Plymouth managed to hang on to the slender victory to put themselves in the hat for the next round.