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Fulham v Bolton Match Preview
last updated Tuesday 23rd April 2002, 10:56 AM
An unlikely
victory at Elland Road ended Fulham's dreadful run of nine games without
a win and the club are now beginning to harbor European ambitions. If
the Cottagers can overwhelm Bolton in midweek then they will leapfrog
Everton in the race for Intertoto qualification.
Having amassed
40 points Jean Tigana's side no longer have to look over their shoulders
with trepidation and are on the verge of renewing their top-flight status
for a further year at least. There is now a seven-point cushion between
themselves and seemingly doomed Ipswich, who offer a damning example of
what can happen 12 months after a successful first foray into the elite
division. |
Craven Cottage
23rd April, 2002 |
Fulham |
Bolton |
Div
Avg |
| Games |
35 |
35 |
35 |
| ATTACKING |
| Goals scored |
33 |
43 |
46 |
| Ave goals per game |
0.94 |
1.23 |
1.31 |
| Shots(ex blocked shots) |
363 |
355 |
377 |
| Shooting Accuracy |
41% |
44% |
45% |
| Goals to shots % |
9.1% |
12.1% |
12.2% |
| PASSING |
| Short passes |
11903 |
7697 |
10024 |
| Long passes |
4026 |
3289 |
3787 |
| Passes |
15929 |
10986 |
13811 |
| Pass completion % |
76% |
66% |
74% |
| CROSSING |
| Crosses |
911 |
834 |
859 |
| Crosses completion % |
23% |
23% |
25% |
| DEFENDING |
| Tackles |
1092 |
817 |
950 |
| Tackle success rate % |
74% |
73% |
74% |
| Clearances |
1536 |
1555 |
1666 |
| Goals conceded |
41 |
55 |
46 |
| Ave goals conceded per game |
1.17 |
1.57 |
1.31 |
| DISCIPLINE |
| Fouls |
514 |
547 |
523 |
| Yellow cards |
51 |
57 |
54 |
| Red cards |
1 |
7 |
3 |
| stats
from opta |
|
 But
fortunately the Cottagers have looked assured at the back. They possess
the fifth best defensive record in the division thanks in part to the presence
of skipper Andy Melville. The Welshman has weighed in with more than 350
clearances blocks and interceptions as the team have looked to clear their
lines in the final third.
Fulham have also
maintained almost twice as many clean sheets as Bolton this term and if
they can match this resilience with a sharper cutting edge in attack, then
Bolton pilgrimage to the bright lights could all end in vain.
(source: planetfootball by Mark Willis)
| Matchday
Referee |
 Paul
Durkin
Portland, Dorset
Ref Durkin must be one of the most recognisable ref's in English soccer
and has been on the FIFA international list since 1994.
Mr. Durkin has officiated at two Fulham games so far this season and
also two involving Bolton. His last involvement with Bolton ended
with him sending off Andy Cole of Blackburn
In common with many of his colleagues Mr. Durkin is not very hospitable
with 60% of his yellows and 100% of his reds going to the visitors.
It has to be said that when Fulham have been involved there has been
no bias for or against us as he has whacked us at the same rate as
the other squad. His busiest game this season was 8 yellows in the
Man U v West Ham game, 5 cards to United.
| |
Mr. Durkin's score sheet |
Average Premiership Referee score sheet |
| |
Total |
Match
Avg |
Total |
Match
Avg |
| Games |
18 |
|
15 |
|
| Fouls |
535 |
29.72 |
445 |
30.14 |
| Penalties |
5 |
0.28 |
3 |
0.19 |
| Yellow cards |
47 |
2.61 |
46 |
3.12 |
| Red Cards |
3 |
0.17 |
3 |
0.20 |
|
| MATCH BETTING ODDS
|
With both sides all but mathematically safe from the drop, there
may not be as much pressure for a result at Craven Cottage. Fulham
have effectively secured their safety after solid displays at Leeds
and Newcastle as their rivals have floundered and Bolton have gained
11 Premiership points from a possible 15.
Despite this, Fulham have only won one of their last ten games
and Bolton have been victorious in only four of their last 22 Premiership
encounters, so it is unlikely to be a thrilling encounter.
The Cottagers boss Jean Tigana has injury concerns over Luis Boa
Morte, while Chris Coleman and Lee Clark will not return until next
season.
Bolton's Mike Whitlow is likely to be replaced by Greek defender
Kostas Konstantinidis, who is available again after missing the
Tottenham game through suspension.
Although Fulham will be confident of victory after their success
at Elland Road, it cannot be ignored that they have drawn nine of
their 21 home games this season.
Similarly, nine of Bolton's 23 away games have ended all square, and
interestingly, of those 18 games singled out, all have been either
0-0 or 1-1. (source: sportinglife by Tom Millard)
|
|
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