Ten-man Fulham's First Division title hopes were rocked by a stunning Per Frandsen
equaliser and Portuguese star Luis Boa Morte's late sending-off.
But how on earth Sam Allardyce's battling Bolton side remain just12 points
behind runaway leaders Fulham is a mystery as they had to survive a 90-minute
battering.
Former Celtic star John Collins hit the post twice and Trotters defender Simon
Charlton had to head off the line twice as the Cottagers threatened to blow
away their nearest rivals.
And Fulham's woe was complete when the game exploded ten minutes from
time after former Arsenal ace Boa Morte was red-carded for appearing to
head-butt Bolton's Robbie Elliott, who was also booked for the ugly clash.
It had all started so well for Fulham, though, and the thought of the
Cottagers ending the match with a solitary point was inconceivable as they laid
siege to the visitor's goal and could have scored a hatful but for a combination
of poor finishing, bad luck and last-ditch Bolton defending.
There looked to be an air of inevitability about the game when Cottagers hit-man
Barry Hayles finally broke the deadlock and gave his side a deserved lead five
minutes before half-time.
The former Bristol Rovers striker collected a pass from partner Louis Saha,
and turned Colin Hendry on the edge of the box before drilling a low shot past
Tommy Wright for his 18th goal of the season.
It was no more than Fulham deserved after battering Bolton in a frantic and
often tempestuous first-half encounter. Collins should have opened the scoring
earlier when he capitalised on a rare Hendry mistake on 23 minutes but
struck the post from five yards out, just as it looked easier to score.
The Scottish midfielder was at the heart of the action again on 65 minutes
when Saha's blocked effort from a disputed free-kick came back to Collins, but
his delightful chip hit the top of the bar and rebounded to safety.
And when the woodwork failed to come to Bolton's rescue, they had defender
Charlton and striker Dean Holdsworth to thank for keeping them in the match
as the duo cleared efforts from Saha, Welshman Kit Symons and Sean Davis off
the line.
But the high-flying Trotters, who have third-place Blackburn Rovers breathing
down their necks after Graeme Souness' men thumped them 4-1 at the Reebok Stadium
last week, still did not look like clawing themselves back into the contest
until Frandsen's sucker-punch after 51 minutes.
The former Blackburn midfielder bent a brilliant 25-yard free-kick inside
Maik Taylor's near post to shock the home crowd.
And just when Fulham thought it could not have got any worse, Boa Morte reacted
to a clumsy challenge by ex-Newcastle star Elliott as tempers began to boil
over and was shown the red card by referee David Laws.
Fulham: Taylor, Brevett, Melville, Symons, Clark, John Collins, Davis,
Goldbaek (Boa Morte 58), Finnan, Hayles, Saha.
Subs Not Used: Hahnemann, Neilson, Moller, Riedle.
Sent Off: Boa Morte (80).
Bolton: Wright, Elliott, Charlton, Hendry, Bergsson, Warhurst,
Frandsen, Passi, Farrelly (Ricketts 50), Hansen (Summerbee 88), Holdsworth (Marshall
76).
Subs Not Used: Banks, Barness.
Booked: Warhurst, Hendry, Elliott.
Att: 16,468
Ref: D Laws (Whitley Bay).
FULL-TIME
90 mins: OOH! Davis almost wins it for Fulham with a header
that skimmed the bar
88 mins: Fulham desperately try to fashion a late winner, but Bolton hold
firm
86 mins: SUBSTITUTION: Summerbee comes on for Hansen
80 mins: YELLOW CARD! Elliott escapes with just a booking from
the clash with Boa Morte
80 mins: RED CARD! Boa Morte is given his marching orders
for appearing to head-butt Elliott
79 mins: Players from both sides square up to each other in
an ugly brawl
75 mins: SUBSTITUTION: Marshall replaces Holdsworth with 15
minutes to go
73 mins: Boa Morte launches another Fulham attack, but is brought
down by Frandsen
69 mins: OUCH! Charlton is clattered by Boa Morte
67 mins: YELLOW CARD! Hendry receives a booking for a late
challenge on Hayles
67 mins: Fulham force yet another corner after Bergsson headed
the ball behind
65 mins: OOH! Collins strikes the bar with a delightful chip
- it's the second time he's hit the woodwork
64 mins: YELLOW CARD! Warhurst goes into the book for a clash
with Hayles
62 mins: Bolton's penalty claims are waived away after Holdsworth
was felled by Symons
57 mins: SUBSTITUTION: Boa Morte comes on for Goldbaek
as Fulham go for the win
54 mins: A rejuvenated Bolton side force a corner - what a
turnaround at the Cottage!
51 mins: GOAL! Frandsen scores a dramatic equaliser with a
fantastic 25-yard free-kick
50 mins: SUBSTITUTION Michael Ricketts finally comes on for
Farrelly
49 mins: OOH! Collins' free-kick is well-saved by Wright at
the near post
48 mins: OUCH! Clark is brought down by Hendry for a dangerous
free-kick
47 mins: OOH! Charlton clears off the line from Symons
for the second time!
46 mins: Fulham make a good start to the half and force an
early corner
HALF-TIME
41 mins: GOAL!! Hayles finally breaks the deadlock with a great low
drive
40 mins: Clark blazes a shot high above Wright's cross-bar
39 mins: HANDBALL! Fulham's penalty appeals are turned down
after Charlton handled
38 mins: Fulham force another corner - a goal is surely coming
37 mins: Goldbaek's drive is deflected wide for a corner
35 mins: MISS! Hayles flashes a shot wide - how many chances
do they want?
34 mins: OOH! Hayles's shot is well-saved by Wright as Fulham
continue to run Bolton ragged
32 mins: Saha almost breaks through the Trotters defence, but
Charlton puts in a great tackle
29 mins: OOH! Davis' header from Goldbaek's cross flashes inches
wide
27 mins: SHOCK! Bolton almost score in their first real attack,
but Bergsson heads over
25 mins: OOH! Clark tricks his way past three Bolton players,
but strikes just wide
23 mins: MISS! Collins strikes the post when it looked easier
to score. How did he miss?
20 mins: OUCH! Davis clashes with Frandsen - tempers are flaring
at the Cottage
18 mins: WHAT A WASTE! Hayles should have put Clark
in but blew the chance
17 mins: OUCH! Holdworth pole-axes Davis in an ugly challenge
16 mins: It's real last-ditch defending from Bolton here -
how much longer can they hold on?
14 mins: Another Fulham corner wreaks havoc in the Bolton defence,
but Hendry clears
13 mins: Bolton seem to have stemmed the tide after several
close shaves
11 mins: OUCH! Collins is taken out by Passi's crude tackle
10 mins: Hansen launches a rare Bolton attack, but his shot
dribbles miserably wide
9 mins: OOH! Holdsworth clears off the line after keeper Wright's
mistake
8 mins: Goldbaek wins another corner - where was the Bolton
defence?
6 mins: OOH! Saha's through ball is just too strong for Clark.
It's all Fulham so far
5 mins: Hayles wins a corner for the rampant Cottagers - Bolton
are really up against it!
4 mins: OOH! Charlton clears off the line for Bolton from Saha's
brilliant header
3 mins: OOH! Passi has to head wide with saha lurking at the
far post
1 mins: Clark is pulling the strings in midfield for Fulham,
but Bolton are competing well
0 mins: The tackles are flying in. It's a fierce start to this
crucial clash
KICK OFF!
Source sky