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Fulham owner and chairman
Mohamed
Al Fayed happy after an excellent win for his club
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Fulham 4 Bolton 1
Fulham owner and chairman Mohamed
Fayed paraded around Fulham's new shared home here as if it were his own,
before watching his side safely deposit their first three points from
their eighth unbeaten game of the new season after a run to the InterToto
Cup final.
Maybe Fayed knows Fulham are more secure here. For, having limped to
safety at the end of last season, their Premiership debut, they have hit
the ground running this time. Bolton took an early lead, but Fulham came
back strongly and could have scored more than four.
Michael Ricketts had Bolton fans feeling joyful with a goal after only
three minutes. Youri Djorkaeff's footwork was too fancy for Alain Goma and
Fulham's French defender tripped his countryman as he turned him just
inside the penalty area. Ricketts then took the penalty to get his, and
Bolton's, season off to a fine start.
Fancying their chances, the Bolton fans, with a world- class striker's
instinct, seized on a rare chance and broke into a chorus of: 'We are top
of the League.'
They were knocked off their perch a mere seven minutes later as Gudni
Bergsson was led a dance by Louis Saha and conceded a penalty at the other
end. Saha took it and scored more convincingly with a shot that whizzed
past Jussi Jaaskelainen'sdive.
Game on, and there were a few more chances to enjoy at either end,
although Fulham deserved to be ahead at half-time. Sylvain Legwinski had
already gone close with a good header and Steve Marlet had shot at
Jaaskelainen's feet with only the keeper to beat before Legwinski finally
succeeded in the 33rd minute. Legwinski turned sublimely on to a Sean
Davis flick and scored with a low left-foot shot from an angle.
| Match Stats |
Fulham |
Bolton |
| Goal attempts |
12 |
3 |
| On Target |
5 |
2 |
| Fouls |
16 |
12 |
| Corners |
7 |
4 |
| Offside |
4 |
5 |
| Yellows |
1 |
2 |
| Reds |
0 |
0 |
| source: www.sportinglife.com |
Fulham were rampant for a spell and referee Alan Wiley awarded the
game's third convincing penalty when Bernard Mendy marked his Bolton debut
by diving in on Luis Boa Morte in the 36th minute. Marlet took this one -
different player, different foot, different angle, same result - and
Bolton were in serious trouble.
Summer signings Mendy and Nigerian Jay Jay Okocha did not survive
manager Sam Allardyce's half-time reshuffle and were replaced by Mike
Whitlow and Henrik Pedersen.
Fulham were not as dominant as before and were naturally less
motivated, but they were hardly troubled all the same, and seemed capable
of raising their game, if required. Maybe those InterToto games were
paying off. Then, as if by magic, we were transported back to the thrills
and camera flashes of the World Cup when Junichi Inamoto came on as a sub
for Fulham.
A healthy Japanese contingent were not disappointed by their hero, who
sent in the cross that led to Legwinski driving in Fulham's fourth goal,
from the edge of the box with 10 minutes to go.
It does not really count, but Fulham are technically top and, although
it won't last, what a cracking start to the season.
Fulham:
Van der Sar, Finnan, Melville, Goma,
Brevett, Malbranque (Inamoto 69), Davis, Boa Morte, Legwinski,
Saha (Sava 78), Marlet.
Subs Not Used: Taylor, Collins, Ouaddou.
Booked: Melville.
Goals: Saha 11 pen, Legwinski 33, Marlet 38 pen, Legwinski
79.
Bolton:
Jaaskelainen, Mendy (Pedersen 45), Bergsson,
N'Gotty, Charlton, Frandsen, Okocha (Whitlow 45), Gardner,
Djorkaeff, Nolan (Warhurst 70), Ricketts.
Subs Not Used: Poole, Holdsworth.
Booked: Mendy, N'Gotty.
Goals: Ricketts 4 pen.
Att: 16,338
Ref: A Wiley (Staffordshire).