Match Preview

Preview: Fulham v Bolton

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After four points in two games Bolton have had the slightest of revivals. But we`re back on the road for the next couple of games, and we all know we don`t win away games in the Championship. Even more so, we don`t win league games at Fulham, and annoyingly the build-up has been dominated by Ken Anderson`s toy-throwing and last night`s bitter/bizzare/worrying comments about us from the Scunthorpe chairman. Not for the first time for us in recent years, it`ll be good to focus back on the football.

Vital Quotes:

“Of course you go away from home and respect the point, which is never a bad result, but what an opportunity to go and put that statistic to bed like we did Bury last season. It`s a real motivation.”

Steve Parkin features in this week`s soundbite nicked from the Bolton News.

Fulham Team News:

I haven`t seen any Fulham team news yet. Slacking.

Player to watch: Stefan Johansen

The Norwegian midfielder has managed to score four times this season, and will provide an attacking threat in terms of passing and shots from the centre of the park.

Bolton Wanderers Team News:

Will Buckley should be available, while Reece Burke is an injury doubt for Wanderers. I would once again expect an unchanged first XI from Phil Parkinson though.

Player to watch: Darren Pratley

With a good performance and goal last week, and sort of the one who helped force the own goal that put us two up against Sheffield Wednesday, it has been a decent month for Pratley. This game will see the captain return to the club where he learned his trade, but only managed to make one league appearance for the Cottagers before leaving over a decade ago.

Match Facts & Stats

Bolton have a long-standing league hoodoo away at Fulham, having failed to pick up three points there in 25 years, despite being in the same league for 15 of those seasons. The last point they picked up was in 2009, when we got a 1-1 draw with Ivan Klasnic scoring.

We do have two recent-ish cup victories though, including a 1-0 win in the fifth round of the 2011 FA Cup run. Again, Klasnic scored.

Our last visit to Craven Cottage finished in a 1-0 defeat on the final day two seasons ago. Tom Cairney scored in the last 15 minutes.

Bolton have two away draws all season, but Fulham have only one win at home, beating Hull in September.

Match Prediction:

I can`t see us breaking either away hoodoo, but I`ll be optimistic. We`re playing a bit better, Fulham haven`t quite reached last season`s performance levels. 1-1 draw.

Next Fixtures:

A trip to Sunderland on Tuesday for a huge bottom of the table clash, before we host Norwich next Saturday.

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