Carney's first goal for Sheffield United earns shock win over Bolton

Dave Carney, the wannabe who refused to give up his dream, put Bolton's underachievers to shame at the Reebok and earned his beleaguered boss Bryan Robson some breathing space.

United manager Robson will go into crucial league games against QPR and Sheffield Wednesday with a squad lifted by Australia winger Carney's first goal in England.

While Gary Megson seems certain to lose star striker Nicolas Anelka to Chelsea in a £12million deal, Robson can reflect on a £46,500 punt that has sprinkled a little FA Cup magic on a difficult season.

Carney, 24, released by Everton and Oldham and unable to take to Halifax, returned to Australia and Sydney FC before Harry Kewell and Mark Viduka encouraged him to renew his ambitions here.

Robson, impressed by Carney in last summer's Asia Cup, said: 'We were sent a DVD by his agent. Then we learned he was keeping Harry Kewell out of the Australia team.'

Robson's move paid off when Carney steered Stephen Quinn's superb 42nd-minute pass beyond Bolton goalkeeper Ali Al Habsi to settle an ordinary tie.

'I never gave up hope that I could make it over here.' said Carney.

'I came over at 16 and was at Everton for three years. David Moyes just didn't think I was ready for the first team. Sometimes you have to take one step back to take two forward. He knew I had potential. I think he's keeping an eye on me again. He's a great manager who I respect, even though he let me go.

'I had spells at Oldham and Halifax, then Hamilton, but it wasn't nice playing on an artificial pitch. I told the chairman, "That's it, I'm off".

'Going home was a good move. I became quite a big player at Sydney. We won the title and it got me in the national team. I always believed in my ability, it was just getting the breaks.'

Bolton's fringe players were offered their own break but left Megson angry at the lack of fight that made a mockery of match sponsors Firebelly.

Megson's mix-and-match sides have shocked Bayern Munich and Red Star Belgrade this season but he said: 'Some of these players let themselves down as much as they let the club and the fans down.'