Australian midfielder David Carney scored the only goal of the game four minutes before half time against a Trotters team which contained a number of changes.

Bolton boss Gary Megson opted to play the likes of Daniel Braaten, Lubomir Michalik, Gerald Cid and Stelios Giannakopoulos, whilst there was also a full debut for Israel international Tamir Cohen following his recent move from Maccabi Netanya.

Cohen's performance was a plus point in a Bolton team which lacked a cutting edge and whilst the visiting Blades did not create much in the opening half they took their chances nonetheless.

Norwegian striker Braaten could have and should have put the Wanderera ahead on six minutes but the former Rosenberg front man showed his lack of match practise when heading over a pinpoint El-Hadji Diouf cross.

Shortly after the Scandinavian had another chance, this time Diouf sprayed a long crossfield ball into the path of Stelios Giannakopoulos and the Greek star headed back across goal only for Braaten to see his half volley blocked.

Braaten showed good determination for his third chance of the half when in a footrace with centre half Leigh Bromby but his eventual overhead kick was hopeful and left Blades keeper Paddy Kenny watching the ball go to safety.

Ten minutes before half time Sheffield had their first clear cut opportunity of the game when a cross by the experienced Lee Hendrie was headed over the goal of Ali Al-Habsi by Jamaican international Luton Shelton.

Shelton had been prefered to Rob Hulse in attack by the visiting manager Bryan Robson and once or twice the Shelton and Stead combination of height and pace threatened to disrupt the Trotters.

On 42 minutes the game's only goal was scored when a static Bolton defence failed to latch onto a Stephen Quinn through ball, allowing Carney with the task of slotting the ball past Al-Habsi.

It was careless by Bolton and in the end proved to be crucial to the end result and even a number of second half adjustments could not lift the Wanderers game.

Swiss midfielder Blerim Dzemaili came on to finally make his Bolton debut, six months after signing for the club from FC Zurich but it was one of his collegues who should have done better in the 51st minute when Danny Guthrie's shot was spilled, then gathered by goalkeeper Kenny at the second attempt.

Guthrie was putting in a good shift for the hosts but even he could not inspire his team mates to pull an all important equaliser out of the bag as the side looked disjointed and out of sync.

Debutant Cohen was beginning to tire and the introduction of Christian Wilhelmsson for El-Hadji Diouf failed to make any difference to the pattern of the game.

In fact the Blades pressed in the early part of the second half as Shelton flung himself at a Hendrie corner and Stead was wasteful in front of goal, firing over into the south stand despite being in a good position to score.

Bolton pushed defender Lubomir Michalik and goalkeeper Ali Al-Habsi up for the dying minutes of the game but the nearest the home side came was a Michalik header off target.

Next weekend the Wanderers are at home again, this time it's local rivals Blackburn Rovers who themselves went out of the FA Cup today to a Coventry City side who ran riot at Ewood Park.

BOLTON WANDERERS: Ali Al-Habsi, Nicky Hunt (Blerim Dzemaili), Andy O'Brien, Lubomir Michalik, Gerald Cid, Joey O'Brien, Tamir Cohen, Danny Guthrie, El-Hadji Diouf (Christian Wilhelmsson), Daniel Braaten, Stelios Giannakopoulos

SUBS NOT USED: Andranik Teimourian, Adam Bogdan (GK)

SHEFFIELD UNITED: Paddy Kenny, Derek Geary (Keith Gillespie), Leigh Bromby, Matthew Kilgallon, Chris Armstrong, Stephen Quinn, Nick Montgomery, Lee Hendrie (Billy Sharp), David Carney, Luton Shelton (Rob Hulse), Jon Stead

SUBS NOT USED: Chris Lucketti, Ian Bennett (GK)

ATTENDANCE:

15,286

REFEREE:

Peter Walton

BOOKED:

Cohen (Bolton)

Stead (Sheff Utd)

Armstrong (Sheff Utd)

Diouf (Bolton)

Cid (Bolton)

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