Bolton 0 Fulham 0
Fulham are not out of danger yet after picking up just two points from five games.
But they showed plenty of fighting spirit, not to mention good organisation in a difficult fixture.
Fulham were the first side to make an impact and striker Louis Saha tested goalkeeper Jussi Jaaskelainen with a fierce shot from 25 yards.
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Fulham midfielder Steed Malbranque trying to break the deadlock |
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Bolton bounced back and Per Frandsen tried his luck from 30 yards after Rufus Brevett had carelessly lost possession, only to see his shot drift wide.
Pedersen should have put Bolton ahead after seven minutes but squandered a good opportunity inside the penalty area.
He was released by Jay-Jay Okocha but the Danish striker only succeeded in sending his shot over the top from a good position.
Bolton striker Henrik Pedersen was left cursing his luck at the Reebok Stadium today.
Pedersen could have buried Fulham with a hat-trick but was left with nothing to show for his efforts.
It was a frustrating day all round for Bolton who remain in deep trouble after sharing the points at home for the sixth time this season.
Bolton began to dominate and Fulham defender Alain Goma conceded a corner after 16 minutes under pressure from Delroy Facey.
Then a poor punch by goalkeeper Maik Taylor landed at the feet of Ricardo Gardner.
However, he got a poor touch and miscued the ball nearer the corner flag than the goal.
Fulham hit back and Saha skipped away from Ivan Campo with a degree of ease, but he saw his shot blocked by Anthony Barness.
Bolton kept up the pressure and Facey got away from Martin Djetou and cut inside, only to fire a shot over the top.
Okocha rattled in a 25-yard free-kick that stung goalkeeper Taylor's fingers.
A minute later Pedersen squandered another good chance for the home side as he cleared the bar with a shot from inside the area.
| Match Stats |
Bolton |
Fulham |
| Goal attempts |
17 |
13 |
| On Target |
4 |
8 |
| Woodwork |
0 |
0 |
| Offsides |
3 |
2 |
| Corners |
7 |
4 |
| Fouls |
18 |
16 |
| Yellows |
1 |
2 |
| Reds |
0 |
0 |
| source: www.sportinglife.com |
Fulham again found themselves on the back foot and Frandsen laid the ball off to Okocha but his shot was blocked.
Fulham broke out of defence and Saha, fully fit after a hamstring injury, tried a shot from 20 yards that drifted just wide of the target.
Play switched down the other end and Youri Djorkaeff turned quickly inside the area only for his shot to finish the wrong side of the post.
Bolton won a corner in the first minute of the second half and Gardner delivered an in-swinger to the near post.
Facey got away from his marker but his deft flick was deflected to safety.
Saha was looking a threat every time he got the ball and tested Jaaskelainen in the 48th minute after getting away from Campo.
Facundo Sava then found the net for Fulham but his effort was ruled out for an infringement.
Djorkaeff was trying hard to get Bolton going and picked out Pedersen with a good through ball.
He was in two minds as to whether to cross or shoot. He chose the latter option and his effort cleared the bar.
Steed Malbranque should have made the breakthrough for Fulham after 57 minutes.
He was left clear at the back post when Steve Finnan played the ball across the face of the area.
Malbranque steadied himself, took aim, then sent the ball wide of the target from four yards.
The Fulham supporters could hardly believe it while Bolton breathed a sigh of relief.
Certainly the home side were nowhere near as fluent as they had been in the first half.
Gardner almost put Bolton ahead after 71 minutes when he picked the ball up from deep and got away from goalkeeper Taylor.
However his shot from an acute angle was weak and Goma was able to hack it to safety off the the line.
Malbranque was again wasteful in the 76th minute when Sean Davis delivered a cross from the right, screwing his shot wide.
Pedersen followed suit six minutes later when he saw a half-volley deflected to safety.
Bolton: Jaaskelainen, Charlton, Bergsson, Campo, Barness, Frandsen, Okocha (Walters 83), Gardner, Djorkaeff, Pedersen, Facey (Nolan 69).
Subs Not Used: Poole, Whitlow, Tofting.
Booked: Charlton.
Fulham: Taylor, Finnan, Goma, Djetou, Brevett, Goldbaek, Davis, Malbranque, Legwinski, Sava (Boa Morte 65), Saha.
Subs Not Used: Herrera, Melville, Collins, Hammond.
Booked: Finnan(34, f), Sava(37, f).
Att: 25,156
Ref: A Wiley (Staffordshire).