Source: Daily_Mail
Fulham 1 Bolton 1: Duff denies thuggish Wanderers an ugly victory
Damien Duff's equaliser deprived thuggish Bolton of an ugly victoryon a day when no one, especially not the game of football, was awinner. [LNB]Bolton face a Football Association fine for failing to control theirplayers after Kevin Davies was booked as early as the second minute andfive more men in dark blue received yellow cards. [LNB] Saviour: Fulham's Damien Duff celebrates his leveller[LNB]They will consider it a price worth paying if the point they gained helps to keep them in the Premier League. [LNB]They should just be grateful that there are no financial penalties for playing horrible football. [LNB]The afternoon's only moment of genuine quality, a crisp turn andshot by Ivan Klasnic, had given the visitors hope of finally winning aPremier League match at Craven Cottage at the ninth attempt. [LNB]Not that Fulham were much better but, on the balance of play in thesecond half, they deserved to see Duff's shot find its way through theBolton defence and goalkeeper Jussi Jaaskelainen. [LNB] In a tangle: Paul Konchesky and Bolton Wanderers' Kevin Davies (left) battle at Craven Cottage[LNB]Steinsson found himself in Bennett's notebook moments later though when he brought down Clint Dempsey with a clumsy challenge. [LNB]Hangeland, who signed a new contract with Fulham in midweek, was having a difficult afternoon up against Davies. [LNB]Jonathan Greening should have done better after robbing Bolton's Gavin McCann of possession in the centre-circle. [LNB]The Fulham midfielder raced towards the Bolton goal but despite options either side of him, Greening chose to try his luck from 20 yards. [LNB]But his shot was greeted with groans of disappointment from the home fans when it flew high over the crossbar. [LNB]Greening was booked for a foul on Cohen seconds later but TV replays clearly showed the Bolton man had dived and the Fulham midfielder had made no contact with him whatsoever. [LNB] Pure Klas: Ivan Klasnic (left) celebrates scoring for Bolton[LNB]The conditions, bright and crisp, were perfect for football, butBolton did not want to play any and Fulham were unable to do so. [LNB]It took Kevin Davies precisely one minute and 54 seconds to make hisway into the referee's notebook, thanks to a late lunge on BredeHangeland, and Gary Megson's team produced little that was muchprettier for the rest of the game.[LNB]Heads I win: Fulham's Clinton Dempsey (left) and Andrew O'Brien go up for the ball[LNB] It was probably unreasonable to expect any better from a sidestruggling at the foot of the table after just one win in six matchesand whose manager had confirmed whispers of a disruptive elements inthe dressing room. [LNB]Megson was continuing to backtrack from that statement yesterday. [LNB]He said: 'There's no problem with the spirit. I would never ever suggest that would an issue at our place.[LNB]'I said last week that any team in this position has two choices:roll your sleeves up and battle, or get the white flag out. In terms ofhuman qualities, like honesty and integrity, you won't get anythingbetter than what we have.' [LNB]Fulham were desperately disappointing. [LNB]Whether they were intimidated by Bolton's physical approach or merelyoff-key, Roy Hodgson's team were incapable of stringing more than acouple of passes together and were reduced to pumping balls forward ina very un-Fulham-like way.[LNB]Manager Hodgson said: 'I would like to have won but I'm reallypleased we didn't lose it because that would have been a hard pill toswallow. [LNB]'I'm full of praise for the players for the way they came out andattacked the second half, both in terms of attitude and their attackingplay.[LNB]'To play Birmingham, Blackburn and Bolton in a week is tough. 'Bolton compete so well and are so strong in the air.' [LNB] [LNB] [LNB] [LNB] [LNB] [LNB] [LNB] Giant Hangeland shuns Arsenal switch by signing new contract at FulhamDES KELLY: Why Stoke ride high in a league of happinessFULHAM FC
