Kit Symons is hoping to heap more misery on his old pal Dougie Freedman when Fulham host fellow strugglers Bolton tomorrow night.

Saturday's win at Birmingham City lifted the Cottagers off the foot of the Championship table, while Wanderers dropped into the bottom three after suffering their sixth defeat in eight games.

Symons knows under-fire Freedman from their time together at Crystal Palace, but friendships will be put to one side when their sides scrap for three vital points.

Under pressure: Bolton boss Dougie Freedman

He said: "I played with Dougie at Palace and then I took over as caretaker manager when he was still playing.

"He's a very bright lad, who is very ambitious and desperate for his team to do well. He will be hurting at the moment, as I was watching Fulham at the start of the season.

"They will roll their sleeves up and be tough to beat. They've not had a good time and have been changing things around to try and find the right formula that works for them.

"We're not sure what to expect in terms of formation or style of football. But they will be trying to come up with a plan to cause us an upset."

Temporary boss Symons will be among the names considered by Fulham's new five-man committee tasked with finding Felix Magath's successor.

But Freedman thinks his former team-mate deserves a crack at the role on a permanent basis.

He said: "His time has come where he should be given an opportunity. He has nothing to lose."