Bolton boss Sam Allardyce had some strong words for Oldham winger Lee Croft after the winger's challenge on Nicky Hunt during Sunday's FA Cup fourth round win against the Latics.

The full-back was carried off on a stretcher in the second half at Boundary Park after Croft caught him with a wild lunge.

That horror tackle overshadowed a thrilling cup tie, with Oldham matching their Premiership opponents for long periods.

The game was settled, however, by Ricardo Vaz Te's ninth-minute header which Les Pogliacomi could only parry into his own goal.

Hunt went straight to hospital but the club later announced he had not suffered a break.

"Unfortunately Nicky's going for the ball and the player has gone over the top," Allardyce said.

"I saw it where I was instantly but perhaps from the referees point of view he had a different angle.

"He wasn't looking for ball but he was looking for what Nicky was doing. This is the kind of stuff we want to get rid of in the game.

"I'm not sure if the lad meant it, he's not that kind of lad. But he went over the top in the tackle and caught Nicky above the ankle.

"It's a great shame in such a spirited cup tie that something like that has happened."

Allardyce was pleased with his side's resilience as the Latics looked to get back in the game.

"We've come out of it with the right result, it was hard work at times because of Oldham's effort and good play," he added.

"But our stubbornness defensively and our early goal got us through to the next round."

Oldham boss Brian Talbot will report to the police an incident on the way to the ground when his car was vandalised on the A62.

He refused to talk about the incident but admitted he was pleased with his side's performance.

"I'm more disappointed we lost the game," Talbot said. "The lads gave everything they had, the commitment was there, the effort was first class.

"I'm biased, but our second-half performance merited something from the game. We had chances in the second half and enough of the ball around their box to score."

Talbot agreed with Allardyce's view of Croft's tackle, and added: "Crofty had the ball and mis-controlled it.

"He tried to retrieve the ball, obviously he caught the boy or he wouldn't be injured but I think he was going for the ball.

"Those challenges happen week in and week out and you just get up.

Unfortunately the lad is injured and you hope it's not serious."

Talbot gave a debut to on-loan Kenny Cooper, bringing on the Manchester United striker for the final stages. But the Latics boss did not want to start his new signing and fielded the players involved in the giantkilling of the previous round against Manchester City.

"Kenny Cooper is here for a month and he did well when he came on, he looked a good prospect," Talbot added.

"You have to give credit to everybody because they all did well. I think it was only fair that I played the players who got us here against Manchester City.

"We wish Bolton good luck in the next round, what we must not do is let it affect our season because the last few weeks have been exciting and we have to finish the last three months of the season on a high."