- Gera (15), Zamora (41)
- Davies, K (82)
- Date:2008-09-13
- Kick-off:15:00
- Venue:Craven Cottage
- Attendance:23656
- Referee:Tanner, S
Live Commentary
90mins
Full-Time: FULHAM 2-1 BOLTON. Fulham fully deserve the three points after controlling the game for the majority of the 90 minutes, with Bolton only mustering up some urgency in the final moments of the game.
89mins
Ki-Hyeon Seol is cautioned after a rash challenge on Joey O'Brien
87mins
Riga gets a snapshot at goal from the edge of the box but it is deflected behind by a Fulham defender.
86mins
Bolton have their tails up now and for probably the first time in the match Fulham are on the back foot, but is it too little too late for the visitors?
84mins
Bobby Zamora makes way for Erik Nevland
82mins
FULHAM 2-1 BOLTON: Kevin Davies gets on the end of a long ball from Jaaskelainen and nods it towards goal and HELGUSON helps it into the net.
79mins
The home side seem to have taken their foot off the gas a little as we approach the final ten minutes in the game but there has not been anything of a Bolton comeback so far.
77mins
Bullard has run the game in the centre of the park today, pulling all the strings with exceptional passing. He is showing everyone why Fabio Capello gave him the England call-up.
75mins
Andy Johnson receives rapturous applause as he leaves the field after a very impressive debut. Ki-Hyeon Seol takes his place.
73mins
Zamora finds some space on the left side of the box and gets a shot away but it is deflected behind for a corner. Bullard's corner is this time cleared at the far post by Muamba.
71mins
Paintsil takes the ball down the right flank and puts a dangerous looking cross into the box. Gera is first to the ball and his header cannons back off the crossbar.
68mins
Riga swings a corner into the mixer and Kevin Davies gets above everyone else to nod the ball goal-wards, but it is straight down the throat of a grateful Schwarzer.
66mins
Kevin Davies is picked out with a looping cross but his header at the far post is plucked out of the air by Schwarzer.
65mins
Johnson picks up the ball on the edge of the box and looks to find the far corner of the goal but his shot is wide of Jaaskelainen's goal
63mins
Gary Megson makes his second change and this time is an attacking one with Heidar Helguson replacing Gretar Steinsson
61mins
Gera reaches the byline and sends the ball across the face of goal looking for a team-mate, but it is just ahead of his fellow white shirts and the ball runs behind for a goal-kick.
60mins
Bullard puts another fine delivery into the box and picks out Gera at the far post but he directs his header wide of the target.
58mins
Fulham seem to have all the time in the world when they are in possession, and they are giving Bolton the run around at the moment with several lengthy spells of possession.
56mins
Fulham have regained the momentum that they had in the first half and Bolton are being completely outplayed and outclassed again.
55mins
Simon Davies unleashes a shot from 25-yards out and almost finds the top corner of the goal, but for a fine save from Jaaskelainen.
55mins
Bullard is allowed back onto the pitch and he chases down a long ball to the byline. The England international gets a cross away and it deflects awkwardly for the Bolton defence, but they eventually clear their lines.
54mins
Bullard receives treatment after the hefty tackle and he and Nolan exchange verbals as he leaves the field of play
53mins
Kevin Nolan picks up the first yellow card of the game after a late challenge on Bullard
51mins
Gary Megson decides to change things around in the early stages of this second half, with Gavin McCann making way for Riga Mustapha
49mins
Gardner gets a shot away from the edge of the box and it is blocked by John Paintsil, but it is a step in the right direction for the visitors.
47mins
Bolton's passing has not been on par with Fulham's today, it has been sloppy and have given the ball away cheaply on numerous occasions. Not much seems to have changed in the opening stages of this half.
45mins
The sides return to the field after their half-time team-talks and the second half is underway.
45mins
Half-time: FULHAM 2-0 BOLTON. Fulham fully deserve the two-goal lead and leave the field for the interval to a standing ovation. Bolton have not been in the game and it could be said that they are lucky the scoreline is not any bigger.
44mins
Johnson is bundled over in the Bolton penalty area and looks to Steve Tanner for a penalty, but the referee waves play on.
42mins
Bolton have been second best to everything today and it shows in the scoreline. Gary Megson will have his work cut out in the dressing room at half-time.
41mins
FULHAM 2-0 BOLTON: BOBBY ZAMORA shows a bit of class as he pulls away from two Bolton defenders before sliding the ball past an outstretched Jaaskelainen and into the far corner.
39mins
The ball drops to Simon Davies inside the Bolton box and he gets a shot on goal but fails to trouble Jaaskelainen.
38mins
The movement from the likes of Simon Davies and Andrew Johnson has been quality today and Fulham are all over their opponents at the moment.
36mins
Johnson breaks the offside trap and reaches the byline before picking out Zamora with a cross, but his thundering header is superbly saved by Jaaskelainen. Brilliant goalkeeping from Bolton's number one.
34mins
Bolton are at sixes and sevens at the back and Fulham have Zamora and Gera against one Bolton defender, but they fail to make the most of the opportunity Zamora's weak shot on goal is collected with ease by Jaaskelainen.
32mins
Bolton are having real difficulties at the back and at times, the marking is non-existent. Gary Megson will be furious with his side and another Fulham goal seems likely.
31mins
Fulham are queuing up to shoot on the edge of the Bolton penalty area and eventually it's Gera who gets one away, but Joey O'Brien gets himself in the way of the ball.
28mins
The instigated change looks to have been put on hold as Gardner takes the field again.
26mins
There is some movement on the Bolton bench with Ricardo Gardner the focus of attention after going down awkwardly, but he looks fit to continue for time being.
23mins
The corner is taken by Ricardo Gardner but it is too close to Schwarzer who punches the ball clear
23mins
Davies comes alive again and strikes a shot from outside the box, forcing a fine save out of Schwarzer.
21mins
Kevin Davies receives the ball in a good position and he attempts to lob Mark Schwarzer, but finds the roof of the net. Better football though from the visitors.
18mins
There doesn't seem to be much sign of a Bolton comeback at the moment with Fulham seeing a lot of the ball, but there is still plenty of time left in this game
16mins
Craven Cottage has come alive with that goal and the London side are now on course for their second win of the season.
14mins
FULHAM 1 - 0 BOLTON: Zamora puts a cross into the box and Bolton fail to deal with it, clearing it only as far as ZOLTAN GERA who sends a fizzing half-volley into the bottom corner.
12mins
The home fans are still fuming at the referee's decision to rule out the goal, but replays have shown that it was the correct decision.
10mins
Boby Zamora stretches and challenges Jussi Jaaskelainen for the ball and manages to sneak it into the back of the net, but the goal will not stand as the referee blows for a foul on the keeper.
7mins
Gera picks out Andrew Johnson in the box but the striker's header loops over the crossbar.
5mins
Fulham have another corner and Bullard looks to create another opportunity but this time his cross is headed clear by Joey O'Brien.
3mins
It has been a bright start from the home side who are looking to continue their good run of form.
1mins
Fulham win an early corner. Its taken by Jimmy Bullard who finds Zoltan Gera inside the box but the midfielder strikes his volley over the bar.
1mins
Referee Steve Tanner gets the game underway.
0mins
BOLTON: Jaaskelainen, Steinsson, Shittu, Andrew O'Brien, Samuel, Gardner, Muamba, Nolan, McCann, Joey O'Brien, Davies. SUBS: Al Habsi, Hunt, Riga, Helguson, Vaz Te, Cohen, Fojut.
0mins
FULHAM: Schwarzer, Pantsil, Hangeland, Hughes, Konchesky, Davies, Murphy, Bullard, Gera, Zamora, Johnson. SUBS: Zuberbuhler, Teymourian, Ki-Hyeon, Nevland, Stoor, Dempsey, Kallio
0mins
Bolton boss Gary Megson names an unchanged side to the one that drew 0-0 against West Brom a fortnight ago, with Ricardo Gardner returning home from international duty to make the starting line-up.
0mins
Roy Hodgson hands a debut to record signing Andrew Johnson for today's game after recovering from injury. Bobby Zamora passes a late fitness test and will partner the ex-Everton striker up-front, but Leon Andreasen is ruled out with a groin strain.
Match Preview
Bolton boss Gary Megson once again expects to be without Johan Elmander for Saturday's trip to Fulham.
The Sweden international has missed Bolton's last two games after pulling a hamstring in last month's defeat at Newcastle United and, despite returning to training, the Craven Cottage clash is expected to come too soon for him.
Megson will also be without the suspended Gary Cahill, while Matt Taylor is a major doubt after breaking his toe against the Magpies.
In better news for the Trotters, Fabrice Muamba, who came off injured playing for England Under-21s in their win against Portugal, is expected to be fit for Saturday's match.
The 20-year-old midfielder is pleased with the start Bolton have made this term and believes a top-ten finish is within their capabilities.
"This year we know what we want to do but it is in-house," he said. "Hopefully we can surprise many people. I'm sure we're looking for a top-ten finish, because this season is going to be very different from last."
Bolton have taken four points from their two home games against promoted sides Stoke City and West Brom so far this season but lost narrowly at Newcastle United in their only away match to date.
Fulham have endured a mixed start to the campaign with an opening day defeat at Hull City being followed by a shock 1-0 victory against Arsenal in their last Premier League clash almost three weeks ago.
It has been busy at Craven Cottage since that game with Jimmy Bullard called in to Fabio Capello's England squad, Antti Niemi forced to retire, Julian Gray being snapped up on transfer deadline day and Alexei Smertin and Collins John leaving the club.
Andrew Johnson could finally make his Cottagers debut this weekend following last month's big-money move from Everton - the striker has been sidelined with a thigh strain - while Diomansy Kamara's knee injury will keep him out of action until the new year.
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Match Report
Fulham produced a scintillating first-half performance as they beat Bolton 2-1 at Craven Cottage to provide further evidence that the Roy Hodgson revolution is in full swing.
Having saved the club from relegation Hodgson was allowed to spend big in the summer, and Zoltan Gera and Bobby Zamora scored the goals that capped a fine team performance.
Bolton were poor, though, and barely saw the ball in either half, although Heidar Helguson managed to pull an undeserved goal back against his former club with eight minutes remaining.
Hodgson was able to field his new strike-force for the first time as Andrew Johnson made his first start for the club after his £10million move from Everton alongside £6million man Zamora.
These two clubs had spent £30million between them in overhauling their squads after narrowly avoiding the drop and Fulham - who brought in 11 players that accounted for £21million of that sum - were clearly fired up, forcing a corner directly from the kick-off.
And the home fans, who saw Fulham stun Arsenal in their last Premier League outing some three weeks ago, were forced to wait until the 15th minute before their side took the lead, with Gera scoring his first league goal since his summer move from West Brom.
Zamora did the damage with a dangerous cross which Jlloyd Samuel could only head to Gera.
The Hungarian gleefully accepted the chance, drilling in a shot from 16 yards which slipped under Jussi Jaaskelainen's body and into the net.
Fulham were dominant - and they scored the second goal they richly deserved four minutes before half-time, and in some style too.
It was all Zamora's own work as he turned inside both Danny Shittu and Gavin McCann on the corner of the area before unleashing a 22-yard rocket inside Jaaskelainen's far post to register his first goal for the club.
Bolton boss Gary Megson had a face like thunder and waited just five minutes into the second half before making a change, bringing on the attacker Mustapha Riga for the defensive-minded Gavin McCann.
It made little difference though as Fulham continued to out-pass and out-move their visitors.
And Fulham were content to play keep-ball for the remainder of the game as they dominated proceedings, with Gera coming closest to adding a third when he headed against the bar from Kevin Davies' cross.
Somehow Bolton hauled themselves back into it as Helguson scored against his former club, getting the slightest touch as Davies headed a free-kick back across goal.
But it was too little too late as Fulham claimed the three points their high-class performance merited.
Fulham Team
Bolton Wanderers Team
Fulham | Bolton Wanderers |
Corners
| 12 | 6 |
Fouls
| 15 | 11 |
Goal attempts
| 20 | 8 |
Shots off target
| 6 | 1 |
Offsides
| 2 | 6 |



90mins
Simon Davies gets behind the Bolton defence and is one-on-one with Jaaskelainen but the keeper gets down to save the midfielder's low shot.