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Fulham midfielder Sylvain Legwinski riding high as Fulham's top goal scorer
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Fulham (3) 4 Bolton (1) 1
Fulham's first game at Loftus Road turned into a midsummer
stroll as Bolton were hopelessly outclassed.
The InterToto Cup finalists were clearly more match-fit and
alert to the task while Bolton, who walloped five goals past Leicester on
the opening day of last season, were on the receiving end, despite going
in front almost at the outset.
Showing no homesickness after their two-mile switch from
Craven Cottage, Fulham were two goals to the good by half-time.
They attacked from the start only to hand the visitors a
shock lead in only the third minute, failing to cut out Ricardo Gardner's
searching pass and enabling Youri Djorkaeff to turn in the box, where
Alain Goma barged him over.
Michael Ricketts tried to sell Edwin van der Sar a couple
of dummies before steering home his right-foot penalty kick.
Steve Marlet headed wide after Sylvain Legwinski flicked on
a Steed Malbranque free-kick as Jean Tigana's side urgently sought to
equalise. They did just that in the 10th minute, courtesy of another
spot-kick award by referee Alan Wiley. Whereas his first decision had
seemed clear-cut, Gudni Bergsson's challenge on Louis Saha saw the
Frenchman only stumble. Saha duly rattled in the penalty left-footed.
Malbranque provided most of Fulham's creative spark and
Marlet should have done better from his pass than just hammer the ball
against Jussi Jaaskelainen's legs. Legwinski showed him how it should be
done on 32 minutes, cutting inside following Sean Davis's through-ball and
guiding a neat shot beyond Jaaskelainen.
Five minutes later, it was 3-1. There was no doubt about
the third penalty, Bernard Mendy bundling over Luis Boa Morte and Marlet
scored from the spot.
The curiously anonymous Jay Jay Okocha failed to reappear
after the interval and Bolton also replaced the hapless Mendy. Henrik
Pedersen, who had come on for Okocha, did his best to put Wanderers back
in contention, embarking on a weaving run and setting up Djorkaeff, who
spooned the ball embarrassingly over.
But Fulham were cruising now and, to a huge chorus of glee
from the Japanese contingent in the crowd, Junichi Inamoto entered the
fray. The midfielder took just 10 minutes to make an impact, his cross
prompting defensive panic before Legwinski volleyed in his second 12
minutes from time.
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).