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SunSport |
Fulham 1 Bolton 1
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German striker Ivan Klasnic had put the Trotters ahead with a shock goal in the 35th minute.
Gary Megson's men then soaked up an almighty Fulham assault and looked set to seal a smash 'n grab win.
But Duff popped up to level matters in the 75th minute.
And the equaliser left Fulham boss Roy Hodgson a happy man.
He said: "I am full of praise for the players for the way they came out and attacked in the second half.
"We played some much better football after the break.
"But I must pay credit to Bolton for their resolute back four and their goalkeeper. They came up with the answers when we asked them.
"I would have liked to have won the game but it would have been a harsh pill to swallow had we lost.
"Bolton's goal was very good. Klasnic took it excellently. We had to work hard and play a lot of football to get the equaliser."
In a dire opening, the only moment of interest was a yellow card for Kevin Davies.
The Bolton skipper went into Steve Bennett's notebook for a wild challenge on Brede Hangeland.
But the game exploded out of nowhere in the 16th minute.
Erik Nevland, with two goals in Fulham's last two home games, had a simple chance to side-foot home from just six yards out.
But Iceland star Gretar Steinsson threw himself at Nevland's shot - and heroically cleared the ball off the line.
Nevland almost turned provider, but Steinsson then snuffed out his through ball to Zoltan Gera.
The Trotters' defender continued to hog the spotlight when he was booked for hacking down Clint Dempsey.
Jonathan Greening then should have done better after robbing Gavin McCann in the centre circle.
The ex-West Brom ace hared towards the Bolton goal and shot high and wide from 20 yards out.
Greening's Fulham team-mates - spread across the Trotters half in support - were fuming with his decision to pull the trigger.
And the midfielder's misery continued when he was booked as Tamir Cohen went to ground - despite replays suggesting Bolton's Israeli winger had taken a dive.
Klasnic then snatched the lead for the Trotters.
The striker collected a header from Gary Cahill, skinned Brede Hangeland and tucked home past Mark Schwarzer.
It was only Bolton's second goal in four games - and came completely against the run of play.
After the break, Fulham stormed out of the blocks - but Bolton's normally leaky defence looked firm.
In the 57th minute Steinsson pulled off another breathtaking goal-line clearance to deny Fulham a leveller.
The right-back blocked Dempsey's header as the hosts piled on the pressure.
Gera and Duff then had shots as Fulham set up camp in the Trotters' half.
Jussi Jaaskelainen was booked for time wasting - although he made amends in the 66th minute with a flying save to deny Nevland.
But Hodgson's men couldn't be denied forever, and Duff finally hit back.
The winger collected a pass from Nevland and drilled a right-foot shot into the bottom corner of the net.
And the ex-Newcastle ace was just a yard away from scoring a winner in the 84th minute when his 20-yard drive flashed wide.
Fulham: Schwarzer, Pantsil (Davies 68), Hangeland, Hughes, Konchesky, Gera (Dikgacoi 80), Baird, Greening, Duff, Nevland, Dempsey.
Subs Not Used: Stockdale, Seol, Riise, Eddie Johnson, Smalling.
Booked: Greening.
Goals: Duff 75.
Bolton: Jaaskelainen, Steinsson, Andrew O'Brien, Cahill, Samuel, Cohen (Mark Davies 78), Gardner, McCann, Taylor, Kevin Davies, Klasnic (Muamba 60).
Subs Not Used: Al Habsi, Elmander, Knight, Ricketts, Lee.
Booked: Kevin Davies, Steinsson, Gardner, McCann, Jaaskelainen, Samuel.
Goals: Klasnic 35.
Att: 23,554
Ref: Steve Bennett (Kent).
Source .