Wallace sees off Forest

Wallace is delighted with his goal for his new club

Bolton 1-0 Nottingham Forest

An early goal from Rod Wallace was enough to help Bolton Wanderers past Nottingham Forest into the fourth round of the Worthington Cup.

It took the Premiership side just three minutes to make the vital strike but there was little action for the meagre crowd to shout about from then on.

Bruno N'Gotty nodded down a deep cross and Wallace bravely stooped amid the flying boots to head the ball into the back of the net.

He's come into the team and can't stop scoring

Nicky Southall on Rod Wallace

Bolton manager Sam Allardyce admitted his side had not played well.

"The team that played tonight hadn't played together much, so we were a little disjointed."

Wallace, signed on a free transfer from Rangers in September, looked keen to impress his new employers, and it was his side who surged forward in the opening 15 minutes.

Late effort goes begging

Forest, currently 11th in the First Division, eventually settled their early nerves and bounced back to create some half-chances.

Bolton looked the more dangerous side, though, and Forest keeper Darren Ward produced a good diving save to keep out a low Dean Holdsworth free-kick 10 minutes from time.

Forest had the best chance of the night eight minutes from the whistle as Jack Lester scooped a shot agonsingly over the bar.

Our players can take a lot of heart from their performance

Paul Hart, Forest boss

Forest boss Paul Hart believed his players had been a little unfortunate.

"Our players can take a lot of heart from their performance - I think we had the two best chances of the game.

"I've got no complaints about my players. They have given everything, worked hard and played some decent stuff."

Bolton's Nicky Southall was full of compliments for their goalscoring hero.

"Rod is flying at the minute, the boys have nicknamed him 'Hot Rod'. He's come into the team and can't stop scoring - he's an asset to the club."

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Bolton Wanderers: Jaaskelainen, Richardson, N'Gotty, Diawara, Hendry, Charlton, Nolan, Southall, Hansen, Marshall, Wallace.
Subs: Whitlow, Holdsworth, Ricketts, Norris, Nishizawa.

Nottingham Forest: Ward, Rogers, Louis-Jean, Scimeca, Hjelde, Brennan, Gray, Prutton, Bart-Williams, Lester, Johnson.
Subs: Edwards, Roche, Harewood, Reid, Bopp.

Referee: M Dean (The Wirral).