Elano spot on as City snatch late winner

MANCHESTER City bounced back from their mauling against Chelsea to book a place in the quarter-finals of the Carling Cup. But their victory against the struggling home side was not without controversy.

Brazil playmaker Elano scored the winner from the penalty spot five minutes from time to leave Bolton fuming. Substitute Lubomir Michalik was adjudged to have handled a cross from Elano as he played it into the area. Referee Howard Webb missed the incident but decided to award the spot-kick after consulting his assistant.

Bolton shrugged off their anger to stage a rousing finale but it was all to no avail and their run of bad luck continued despite having a new manager in Gary Megson.

The former Leicester boss was forced to make a change in the 33rd minute when Ireland’s Joey O’Brien limped off with an apparent hamstring problem. He was replaced by Michalik.

Michael Johnson should have put City ahead in the 39th minute when he was released by Stephen Ireland.

With only Jussi Jaaskelainen to beat, he clipped his effort wide of the post from an acute angle.

Bolton responded and on-loan midfielder Danny Guthrie came close on the stroke of half-time, his effort from 25 yards going narrowly wide.

Guthrie then chipped the ball into the area in first-half stoppage-time but Abdoulaye Meite flicked a header wide of the post.

Elano tried to release Georgios Samaras in the 53rd minute but Meite read the situation well and made the clearance.

The visitors stepped up the pressure in the 60th minute and Samaras picked out Elano but the ball ran away from the Brazilian.

Then came that Elano penalty which cheered the 5,000 City supporters but infuriated the home fans.

Bolton were rocked but almost forced extra-time only for Diouf’s free-kick to come back off the bar.

Michael Ball then cleared Gavin McCann’s header off the line and City breathed a sigh of relief.

BOLTON: Jaaskelainen, Joey O’Brien (Michalik 33), Meite, Andrew O’Brien (Campo 77), Samuel, Nolan, McCann, Alonso, Guthrie, Giannakopoulos, Diouf.

MAN CITY: Isaksson, Corluka, Richards (Onouha 73), Dunne, Ball, Ireland, Hamann (Gelson 78), Johnson, Garrido (Vassell 56), Elano, Samaras.

Referee: Howard Webb (S Yorkshire).