Fulham 1 Bolton Wanderers 1
Damien Duff might feel there is some justice left in the world after all as his 75 th minute strike earned Fulham a deserved point against belligerent Bolton Wanderers today (Saturday).
The Republic Of Ireland winger, no doubt still smarting over the way Thierry Henry single-handedly – quite literally – robbed his country out of a World Cup place, struck to ensure Fulham's first home draw in the league this season. However, it was a victory for football as Bolton's strong-arm tactics showed exactly why teams do not like facing them.
They had six players booked – it could have been more – and, like it or not, their remit to get results in an ugly fashion certainly works.
Ivan Klasnic fired Gary Megson's Trotters ahead in the 34 th minute of a tempestuous first half littered with fouls and little in the way of goalmouth action. The hosts, who had started the game brightly, faded after that setback and were barely able to get out of their own half as Bolton started to boss proceedings.
However, they really went for the jugular in the second half with Chris Baird, Damien Duff and Eric Nevland all thwarted by Bolton's stubborn rearguard, not to mention their bedrock, goalkeeper Jussi Jaaskelainen. However, the big Finn could do nothing to keep out Duff's 75 th minute drive, which took a slight deflection off Gary Cahill.
The opening 20 minutes was a drab affair. Kevin Davies put in the first of several overzealous challenges on the hosts and the Bolton skipper was duly booked for leaving Brede Hangeland in a heap after just three minutes. Gretar Steinsson was the next man to be shown yellow by busy referee Steve Bennett after crashing into the back of Dempsey.
Minutes earlier Fulham had created their first real chance from the first corner of the game, however, Nevland was unable to steer Jonathan Greening's scuffed centre past an ensemble of Bolton bodies on the goal-line.
Greening was then booked for a poorly-timed lunge on Tamir Cohen before Bolton took the lead. After failing to clear a free-kick Hangeland was beaten to the ball by Klasnic, who swivelled past the big Norwegian before planting an unstoppable shot past Mark Schwarzer from close
Ricardo Gardner and Gavin McCann were then booked within minutes of one another at the start of the second half, Fulham's quick tempo clearly getting under the skin of the visitors. Baird's point blank header was cleared off the line by Matthew Taylor before Jaaskelainen palmed away Duff's low, curling drive.
The revered Bolton goalkeeper became the fifth visiting player in referee Bennett's book for time-wasting but he was quick off the blocks to get a fingertip to Nevland's pile-driver minutes later, a quite sublime save.
J Lloyd Samuel was booked for scything down Baird in full flight down the right before Fulham restored parity. Duff was released down the right and with the Bolton players backing away the winger pulled the trigger and the ball flashed past Jaaskelainen after taking a slight deflection off Cahill.
Dempsey fired a late effort high and wide before Steinsson header over at the death for Bolton.
Fulham: Schwarzer, Konchesky, Pantsil (Davies, 68), Hangeland, Baird, Nevland, Gera (Dikgacoi, 81), Duff, Hughes (cpt), Dempsey, Greening. Attendance: 23,554.
