Trotters frustrated as Fulham make a point

ROY HODGSON claimed his first point as Fulham boss after a dogged display but his men remain in deep relegation trouble with just two wins from 24 Premier League outings.

Fulham’s new signings Brede Hangeland and Leon Andreasen both caught the eye on their debuts and suggested they could help make the west London club harder to beat than they have been this season so far.

Neither side, however, created much in the way of goalscoring opportunities and, on this evidence, Bolton could come to bitterly regret their decision to allow Nicolas Anelka to leave for Chelsea earlier this month.

Clear scoring chances were thin on the ground with Hangeland doing a good job of shackling Bolton’s lone striker Kevin Davies. The Norway centre-half was at the heart of Fulham’s first half-chance, feeding Danny Murphy in midfield before Murphy sent Clint Dempsey beyond the back four. Dempsey had only Jussi Jaaskelainen to beat but steered his shot wide of the right-hand post.

Bolton’s best effort before the break came from a volley from Icelandic defender Gretar Steinsson that only just cleared the crossbar.

Bolton introduced Tamir Cohen for Andy O’Brien at the break and the switch appeared to galvanise the hosts.

Just before the hour mark, Steinsson got to the byline and whipped in a cross that Kevin Nolan helped on to Matt Taylor at the back post but he was unable to get a clean contact.

Bolton dominated territorially from then on but never really threatened to open up their opponents and will be frustrated at their failure to put some more daylight between them and the relegation zone.

BOLTON: Jaaskelainen, Steinsson, Andrew O’Brien, Michalik, Gardner, Joey O’Brien (Cohen 46), Guthrie (Teymourian 68), McCann, Nolan, Taylor (Helguson 83), Davies.

FULHAM: Niemi, Baird, Hughes, Hangeland, Konchesky, Volz (Christanval 74), Andreasen (Bocanegra 83), Murphy, Bullard (Bouazza 87), Davies, Dempsey.

Referee: Mark Clattenburg.