Fulham 2 - 1 Bolton Wanderers

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Wednesday Aug 15 2007 07:45

On the evidence of the opening two games of the new season, following Fulham will be far from a dull pursuit.

Lawrie Sanchez's new-look side responded to their agonising late defeat at Arsenal four days earlier by recording a first win of the campaign in anything but conventional circumstances.

Fulham were the beneficiaries of a horrendous goalkeeping error by Jens Lehmann on Sunday, but it was they who were dealing out the early presents at Craven Cottage.Tony Warner, outstanding against the Gunners, collected Nicky Hunt's long throw in the 12th minute before bumping into the considerable figure of Zat Knight and spilling the ball into the path of Heidar Helguson.

The former Fulham forward - starting his first game for his new side after his summer switch - could not believe his luck and slipped the loose ball home from eight yards.

It was an ideal early fillip for Wanders in the wake of their listless 3-1 reversal at home to Newcastle on the opening day, but their joy was to be short lived.

It took the Cottagers just ten minutes to respond when Helguson inadvertently flicked the ball into David Healy's path and the Northern Ireland forward finished smartly from close range.

Fulham sensed nervousness in Bolton and after El Hadji Diouf was booked for dissent three minutes later, Alexei Smertin lashed home from 20 yards courtesy of a crucial deflection from Bolton's Gerald Cid to give Fulham the lead at the break.

Wanderers began the second half in sprightly fashion and would have been level but for a full-length save from Warner to deny Nicolas Anelka.

Diouf lashed across the face of goal on the hour mark, while Healy's intelligent running caused problems at the other end.

As Fulham retreated, the Bolton threat increased and the visitors were their usual menace from set pieces.

They were, however, unable to find a way past Warner to leave Sammy Lee's troops pointless after two games.

  • 90
    The fourth official indicates three minutes of added time
  • 90
    FULL TIME - FULHAM 2 - 1 BOLTON: Bolton exerted plenty of pressure in the second half but failed to find the equaliser, thanks to some fine defending by the home side who were the better side on the night
  • 90
    A hopeful long ball picks out Michalik whose header is straight at Warner - had he put it anywhere else it would surely have been a goal
  • 90
    Lubomir Michalik replaces the tired Gary Speed for the final few minutes
  • 89
    Carlos Bocanegra is shown the yellow card for a foul on Braaten
  • 88
    Konchesky goes to ground and play stops as he receives treatment
  • 86
    Konchesky makes a mess of Diouf's cross and the ball bounces through to Nicky Hunt, who smashes his shot wide from close range
  • 84
    Kamara turns Meite inside out before he is pulled down and appeals for a penalty, but the referee waves away the protests
  • 82
    Following their improved performance in the second half, Bolton now look a little jaded and do not look like pulling a goal back
  • 80
    Davies runs with the ball and lays it off for the substitute Kamara who strikes the ball, sending it just wide of the far post
  • 79
    Sanchez makes it a double substitution, this time replacing Hameur Bouazza with Clint Dempsey
  • 79
    Diomansy Kamara takes the field in place of the man who scored the leveller, David Healey.
  • 78
    Diouf drills a dangerous ball across the face of goal, but his team-mates are not on the same wavelength and miss out on the opportunity
  • 75
    McCann, who has had a quiet game, makes way for Mikel Alonso
  • 74
    Diouf picks himself up and takes the free-kick. His delivery is good and picks out Gavin McCann whose glancing header bounces wide
  • 73
    Konchesky is cautioned for a rash challenge on Diouf
  • 72
    A long ball picks out Anelka who has strayed offside
  • 71
    Goalscorer Heidar Helguson leaves the field to a cold reception from the home crowd. He is replaced by Daniel Braaten
  • 68
    Bolton can sniff a goal with the home side looking a little vulnerable. Sammy Lee looks set to make attacking substitutions
  • 65
    Fulham enjoy a decent spell of possession and the move ends with Davies blazing a shot over the bar from 20-yards
  • 63
    The visitors are certainly coming closer but are still in need of a crucial goal
  • 61
    The home side win a free-kick in a decent position, but is wasted by Bouazza who tries to take it quick
  • 59
    The two Bolton frontmen have brightened up after the break. Diouf this time getting a shot away, but drags it just wide
  • 56
    Diouf fizzes a corner into the box and picks out Meite whose header is wide of the mark
  • 53
    A searching pass bounces through a crowd of bodies and finds Nicolas Anelka who tries to curl his shot into the far corner, but Warner pulls off a spectacular save to turn it around the post
  • 51
    Davies picks up the ball and hits an ambition effort from long range but does not trouble the Bolton keeper
  • 49
    Fulham win a corner, but is floats into the hands of Jaaskelainen
  • 47
    Nolan comes to meet a free ball, on the edge of the Fulham penalty area and smashes it wide of the target
  • 46
    Paul Konchesky swings an inviting cross into the danger area and McBride simply cushions the ball goal-wards. but puts it straight at Jaaskelainen
  • 45
    No changes at half-time for either side and the second-half begins
  • 45
    HALF TIME - FULHAM 2 - 1 BOLTON: Fulham's two goals in quick succession give them a deserved lead, though Bolton worked their way back into the game and came close to levelling towards the end of the half, through El Hadji Diouf
  • 43
    Helguson gets behind the Fulham defence and is in a good position, but is pulled back for offside
  • 41
    Bolton seem to be finding their feet again but it may be too late for them to find another goal in this first half
  • 39
    A long ball causes all sorts of problems inside the Fulham penalty area and Diouf finds the ball at his feet. He manages to get a shot away from 6-yards but Bocanegra puts in another fine block
  • 36
    After a thrilling few minutes, the match has slowed down and turned a little scrappy
  • 33
    Speed tries to get his team going again and edges forward with the ball. He lets fly from 20-yards but his shot is blocked by Carlos Bocanegra
  • 31
    The travelling supporters have suddenly turned very quiet, following their opponents quick goal surge
  • 29
    The home side break again with Healey who tries to find the far corner with a curling shot, but sends the ball straight into the arms of Jaaskelainen
  • 26
    FULHAM 2 - 1 BOLTON: The free-kick is headed clear but only as far as ALEXEI SMERTIN, who fires a long-rage effort into a crowd of bodies. It deflects off a Bolton defender and into the back of the net to give Fulham a deserved lead
  • 25
    El Hadji Diouf gives away a silly free-kick in a dangerous position and also earns himself the first booking of the game after a late lunge on Davies
  • 23
    FULHAM 1 - 1 BOLTON: Kevin Nolan fails to deal with a Simon Davies corner and the ball falls kindly for DAVID HEALEY, who slots the ball home from 6-yards
  • 20
    Alexei Smertin runs at the Bolton defence before striking a low shot from the edge of the area, but Jaaskelainen slides across to smother the ball
  • 18
    Davis curls another corner into the mixer but again cannot pick out a team-mate, with Gary Speed heading clear
  • 16
    McBride pulls the trigger from range but sends his shot over the crossbar
  • 14
    Warner will not want to see the replay of that goal over again as the Fulham home crowd jeer their former front-man Helguson
  • 12
    FULHAM 0 - 1 BOLTON: Tony Warner makes a mess of a goalkeeping clearance and gifts a golden opportunity to HEIDAR HELGUSON, who makes no mistake from 12-yards
  • 10
    Steven Davis curls the first corner of the game into the mixer, but Heidar Helguson is on guard to nod the ball behind for another corner
  • 8
    The rain is almost torrential at the moment and is making it very difficult for the players to get a foothold in the game
  • 6
    Kevin Nolan gets a shot away from inside the penalty area but fails to trouble Tony Warner
  • 4
    Brian McBride receives the ball and turns on the edge of the penalty area, but is stopped in his tracks by Jlloyd Samuel who puts the ball out for a throw
  • 2
    The playing surface is looking very slick but it has been a rather tentative start to the game as both sides go in search of their first win of the season
  • 0
    Referee Lee Probert gets the game underway inside a buzzing Craven Cottage
  • 0
    FULHAM: Warner, Baird, Bocanegra, Knight, Konchesky, Davies, Smertin, Davis, Bouazza, Healy, McBride. SUBS: Ricardo Batista, Volz, Kamara, Diop, Dempsey
  • 0
    BOLTON: Jaaskelainen, Hunt, Cid, Meite, Samuel, Nolan, Speed, McCann, Anelka, Helguson, Diouf. SUBS: Al Habsi, Alonso, Braaten, Michalik, Sinclair
  • 0
    Lawrie Sanchez begins this evening's fixture with the same side that lost at the Emirates on Sunday, including goalkeeper Tony Warner who stands in for the still-injured Antti Niemi
  • 0
    There is no place in the side for Bolton's latest signing Andy O'Brien, but Abdoulaye Meite has recovered from injury and partners Gerald Cid at the heart of the defence. Injuries to Kevin Davies and Ricardo Vaz Te give El Hadji Diouf a start.

Statistics

Fulham
Shots on target 6
Shots off target 2
Shots off bar/post 0
Fouls 19
Offsides 6
Corners 9

Bolton Wanderers
Shots on target 7
Shots off target 7
Shots off bar/post 0
Fouls 13
Offsides 11
Corners 8

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