Nolan blasts Bolton back into Euro race

Bolton 2 Fulham 1

The 23-year-old was again overlooked by England coach Sven-Goran Eriksson for the squad to face Uruguay in Wednesday’s friendly at Anfield. But he continues to prove invaluable to Bolton and after adding another entry to his burgeoning collection of spectacular goals, the clamour for Nolan’s inclusion will only increase.

However, Allardyce said: “I’m not surprised Kevin wasn’t included - I’m slightly disappointed. But I can understand it given the quality of players England has in that position, particularly Frank Lampard, who is one of the best in the world. You can understand that, but Kevin is 23 years old, he’s playing in midfield and he’s scoring double figures.”

Lampard, David Beckham, Steven Gerrard, Joe Cole, Jermaine Jenas, Shaun Wright-Phillips, Michael Carrick and Kieran Richardson have all been picked ahead of Nolan. And, in truth, the chances of the Bolton skipper being selected for the England squad for this summer’s World Cup appear remote.

But there is no doubting his influence on Allardyce’s Bolton side, who showed impressive character to overturn Fulham’s 22nd-minute opener by Heidar Helguson. The Iceland striker headed home powerfully from Simon Elliott’s deep free-kick, but he turned villain on the stroke of half-time after putting through his own net following a Bolton corner. Nolan was left to take centre stage after 68 minutes with a superb individual winner, beating Zat Knight and Carlos Bocanegra before firing past Tony Warner at the near post.

Allardyce added: “It was an excellent goal and it was his fitness, his strength and his determination that drove him into position. His ability and his finishing quality got us a very important winner.”

The victory lifted Bolton to sixth and provided the perfect antidote to their painful UEFA Cup exit at the hands of Marseille three days earlier. The win keeps Bolton in contention for another European campaign next term.

Fulham boss Chris Coleman was left to rue another dreadful away day, with the Cottagers the only Premiership side yet to win on the road this season.

Coleman said: “For the first 45 minutes we were the better team. We made more chances and should have been 2-0 up.

“The first (Bolton) goal you can’t do a lot about. But I was bitterly disappointed with the defending for the second goal. You can’t defend like that and expect to get a result.”

Opta Fact: Fulham have lost their last six trips away from Craven Cottage.

Opta Fact: Bolton have scored either one or two goals exactly in their last nine home league games.

BOLTON: Jaaskelainen, O’Brien, N’Gotty, Jaidi, Gardner, Faye (Speed 60), Okocha (Ben Haim 90), Nakata (Vaz Te 82), Nolan, Davies, Giannakopoulos.

FULHAM: Warner, Volz, Bocanegra, Knight, Bridge, Radzinski (Diop 75), Elliott, Malbranque, Boa Morte, Helguson, McBride (John 75).

Referee: P Dowd (Staffordshire).