Cottagers Get First Away Win of the Season
Hodgson Secures Place in the Top 10
After three demoralizing losses at home over the last two weeks, the Cottagers desperately needed to pick up some points if they hoped to keep their dreams of European football alive. Though they've managed to get results against lower side teams like Sheffield Wednesday, Kettering Town and Swansea City during their FA Cup run earlier in the year, Fulham had yet to win away in regular competition this season.
Mistakes Plague Megson's Wanderers
The chances were few and far between for both sides during the opening 40 minutes of the half, but when a defensive error by Andy O'Brien resulted in an easy goal from Fulham striker Andy Johnson, it looked as if the visitors would be entering halftime with the lead. It was an unfair result considering both teams were on level terms for most of the match, and when Kevin Davies slammed home a fine shot during stoppage time, Gary Megson's men were back on level terms.
Fulham were pressuring the home side as soon as the second half began, though, and it looked like they would go 2-1 up when Bolton goalkeeper Jussi Jaaskelainen delivered a fine save from a Bobby Zamora strike. O'Brien's defensive woes continued, however, when Johnson stole the ball from him yet again in the 56th minute. Danny Murphy's left-footed shot clanked off the goal post, but the rebound fell to midfielder Simon Davies, who coolly slotted the ball into the back of the net.
Bolton Search for an Equalizer
With plenty of time to grab an equalizer, Megson brought on Fabrice Muamba for the injured Mark Davies. Despite assuming a more direct, route one approach to nabbing a late winner, however, Fulham's back line continued to impress with a solid defensive performance.
Bolton continued to apply pressure, though, and with Zamora no longer able to perform his duties of holding up the ball, Hodgson introduced Diomansy Kamara into the line-up. The substitution proved to be a much-needed burst of energy for the Cottagers, and when Clint Dempsey intercepted the ball at the top of Bolton's penalty area, he calmly laid it off to Kamara for the team's third goal of the night.
Post-Game Thoughts
Hodgson commended his team for yet another fine performance, admitting that he was "a little bit unhappy with the last two results, although not the last two performances." Megson, meanwhile, was disappointed with Bolton's defense errors, stating that "only Gary Cahill has performed anything like what I would expect - he was okay without being brilliant."
It was a great win for Fulham, which will see them go up to ninth place in the league, and perhaps more importantly, eight points clear of the drop zone. Bolton hasn't slid any further down the table, but even though they are currently in 11th, only four points separate themselves from relegation.
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