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{ What a week: a great seven days has seen Ivan Klasnic score two goals to win two FA Cup ties Photo: ACTION IMAGES

Having secured Bolton Wanderers' place in this tie with a second-half winner at Wigan on Wednesday, his first goal since October, Klasnic supplied the crucial strike again to take Bolton into the last eight of the FA Cup for the first time in six years.

Klasnic was arrested in October after a 17 year-old alleged she had been raped in a Manchester city centre apartment but the striker discovered last week that he would face no charges.

Owen Coyle, the Bolton manager, admitted that the allegations had upset the 30 year-old. He said: “We were delighted to be told there was no case to answer, which we always knew. But the thing about it is in terms of his fan base in Germany and Croatia. A lot of people looked up to Ivan and it was horrible for them to read that. He has tried to deal with it with a smile on his face but there is no doubting from a family perspective he felt that they were hurt more than anything. Hopefully we can see the best of Ivan in the run in.”

Klasnic claimed the winner in the 19th minute and while there was no denying Bolton their victory, the game was not helped by erratic refereeing from Stuart Attwell.

The official failed to take action in the first half when Moussa Dembele appeared to be the target for some heavy challenges, and Fulham manager Mark Hughes said: “I felt there were situations where he was saying he was playing the advantage but in and around the opposition box you don’t want the advantage, you want free-kicks and set plays, which we didn’t seem to get.

“There were a couple of situations where you think the referee needs to make a positive decision and just waving your hands and saying 'play on’ can be a cop-out. You’ve got to be able to be strong enough to make decisions when they are needed.”

Hughes should have been equally unhappy with his players for squandering enough chances to have at least earned a draw.

Bobby Zamora’s return, off the bench, five months since he broke a leg against Wolves, appeared to strengthen Fulham but they could not break down a resolute defence which has now kept five clean sheets in the last six games.

Bolton were without the Cup-tied Daniel Sturridge but still dominated and before the goal Stuart Holden wasted a chance when Fulham failed to clear Fabrice Muamba’s attempt and the ball fell to Chung-Yong Lee. Aaron Hughes and Brede Hangeland could not clear his cross and Klasnic responded with his second goal in five days.

Shortly before the interval Fulham threatened when Clint Dempsey’s raking shot flew wide of the left post and Andy Johnson saw an offering blocked by the Bolton defence.

Bolton could have sewn the tie up in the 65th minute when they counter-attacked with Martin Petrov attempting to feed Kevin Davies but Chris Baird made a timely intervention. Before the end Dempsey went close to securing an equaliser and the American should have done better with a late header, from Danny Murphy’s corner, which sailed over the crossbar.

Agences de presses

Labels: Bolton, character, Coyle, Klasnicaposs, Manager, salutes, striker, Telegraphcouk