DARREN Pratley opted not to celebrate, his former team-mates did not have any choice.

Brendan Rodgers's team selection offered a reminder that in this season more than any other, the league must take priority over the cups.

But the Swansea City manager's expression at full time was not that of a man who was unconcerned about exiting the FA Cup.

There are those who argue that any club trying to find their feet in the Premier League should end their interest in the knockout competitions at the earliest opportunity.

They say those teams who are fighting on only one front are more likely to emerge triumphant in the top-flight survival battle.

Rodgers is unconvinced.

"I hear a lot about how you are better off being out of the cup," he said. "But I wish someone could explain that to me now, because I am disappointed that we didn't get something out of this game.

"I wanted this club to progress in the cup, and I picked a team I genuinely felt could get us through to the next round."

Rodgers's reshuffled line-up could — perhaps should — have at least maintained Swansea's interest in the competition by earning a replay against a near full-strength Bolton Wanderers.

Admittedly the hosts had chances, particularly early on as new-look Swansea took time to get going, but Owen Coyle's claim that Bolton were by far the better side was wide of the mark.

Rodgers felt that his team had been worth a second crack at Bolton, and he had a decent case.

Swansea's leader was left on the defensive by defeat, for any reverse after ten changes have been made leads to questions about respect — or lack of — for the cup. Rodgers had stressed before the third-round win at Barnsley that Swansea were keen on the competition, that he felt a bit of luck in the draw could see his team emulate Stoke City by going all the way to the final.

He had made only a handful of changes at Oakwell but, crucially, Swansea had a free week after that tie before their next Premier League assignment.

At Bolton, however, the shadow of Chelsea tomorrow night was cast across the Swansea team sheet.

"Of course I have to plan ahead," Rodgers added. "I have big respect for the FA Cup — the players will tell you about whether I was happy or not at half-time.

"This is the best domestic cup in the world and I wanted to get through, plus I would never disrespect our supporters.

"They have travelled a long way, and I am very disappointed for them.

"I felt we had the team and the game to control this match, but we didn't do that as much as I would have liked.

"The changes were no different from what we did over Christmas, when everyone said how fantastic we were when we drew with Spurs, and won at Aston Villa then Barnsley."

Rodgers pointed out that nine of his starting XI had played in the top tier this season, and certainly they found ways to trouble Wanderers.

The shame for Swansea was that one of those who has not appeared in the Premier League, Gerhard Tremmel, came under the spotlight at the Reebok.

Swansea's second-choice goalkeeper has looked a solid enough customer ever since joining Rodgers's squad on trial during pre-season.

Sadly for the former Red Bull Salzburg man, his second senior appearance for the club did not go according to plan.

On another day, Tremmel might have saved the scruffy Pratley header — which may actually have come off his shoulder — that brought Bolton level in first-half stoppage time.

And the big German had to hold his hands up after Chris Eagles's winner, which was laid on a plate after he fumbled Martin Petrov's cross-shot.

"There's no blame attached to Gerhard," Rodgers insisted. "I feel I have the No. 1 goalkeeper in the Premier League in Michel Vorm, and Gerhard offers wonderful support to him."

Perhaps if Vorm had not been left at home this weekend, Swansea would be looking forward to the fifth round. We will never know.

Swansea might still be in the cup anyway had they defended a little more shrewdly or attacked more clinically in Lancashire.

"We were nowhere near our best," Rodgers conceded, "but I still felt we did enough to get something out of the game."

Bolton began with much more menace, the excellent Sam Ricketts setting the tone for the first half hour with a header which Tremmel stretched to save.

Tremmel denied David Ngog when the striker was through one on one, and there was another stop to keep out Mark Davies. Swansea eventually got going, Wayne Routledge poking home Leroy Lita's cross at the far post only to look up and see the offside flag.

Then came a special opener, Luke Moore collecting possession after a trademark Swansea passing move and producing the kind of finish which reminds everyone just how much talent he has.

Moore nutmegged David Wheater, raced away from the central defender and lifted the ball over Adam Bogdan.

"It was a world-class finish," Rodgers purred.

Swansea were ahead for only three minutes, however, as Leroy Lita gave away a cheap free-kick and Petrov lifted the dead ball into the box for Pratley to head home.

To his credit, the former Swansea man chose not to celebrate in front of the away end. In reality all home celebrations should have been cancelled, for Pratley looked to be offside.

Bolton were level again thanks to the player who would not pen a new Liberty contract, and they were soon ahead through Eagles, a man who Rodgers was interested in last summer.

Yet by now Swansea were the stronger side, and Lita crashed a shot against the woodwork before Kemy Agustien volleyed just wide.

Pratley might have finished off his old colleagues on the break, first when his header hit the bar and then when he gathered Jazz Richards's back pass but rolled a shot the wrong side of the upright.

Swansea had set-piece opportunities, Garry Monk and Ashley Williams both missing the target when well placed, before Danny Graham became the third man to hit the woodwork when he met Agustien's superb cross with a header.

The rebound bounced fortuitously into Bogdan's arms and Swansea were out of the cup.

"I really felt that if we got a bit of luck with the draw, I could give players I trust a chance in the FA Cup and we could go a long way in the competition," lamented Rodgers. "Of course the league is our No. 1 priority, and this result means we can focus purely on staying up between now and the end of the season.

"But that does not soften the blow right now."

Maybe not, but a result against Chelsea tomorrow would. Manage that and Rodgers would be entitled to celebrate against his former club.