Fulham at Bolton Wanderers

At this point, it’s a matter of keeping everybody healthy, and pray nothing calamitous befalls Hatter’s Woodrow jersey. I feel quite safe that he will NOT forget to wear it.

 

I hear Sheffield United has a hit out on Hatter's jersey. Beware of suspicious looking Brits carrying scimitars.

We last faced Bolton when they were at the bottom of the table and we were in the middle of our crappy run in October. Fulham just managed to rescue a draw at Craven Cottage when Tom Cairney scored deep into injury time. We remain the best team they've gotten points against on the road this season. Bolton is tied for the worst road record in the league, so not getting three points was shameful. While Bolton sit in the lower portion of the table, just three points outside of relegation, they have been on a run of relatively good form in 2018. Over the last eight matches they have earned the same number of points as Middlesbrough and Preston. This includes home wins over Cardiff and Bristol (who currently bookend us on the table) and a road win at Sheffield United. They will head into this match knowing they can beat teams of our caliber at home. I expect this to be a far tougher match for Fulham than what it might look like at first glance. I just hope Jokanovich has got the team ready to play.

 

Here's their summary of their transfer window activity. I only recognized Gary Madine's name on this list, and I'd only heard it recently. And anyway, he left. But...anyone who dons a kit and boots can, potentially, kill you on a given day. Let's hope there are no Davids among this group.

https://www.bwfc.co.uk/news/2018/january/january-transfer-window-round-up/

 

I know Bolton changed sponsors but their stadium will always be The Reebok to me. Will always associate Stuart Holden's rise and short lived time as the 'best US player in the world' w/Bolton as well. The fortunes of the Wanderers turned as soon as Jonny Evans wrecked Holden's leg at Old Trafford.

Sounds like Bolton will be organized and up for a relegation fight, so as said better be ready to go.

 

Millwall drew with Cardiff today. If Millwall had won then we could have moved up to 4th with a win against Bolton. The draw is still good for us leaving Cardiff only 4 points ahead. Every match feels huge now and it is only mid-February.

 

Starters unchanged. A little surprised Mitrovic isn’t starting. But that’s OK. If it ain’t broke....

 

The site not doing a good job staying maintained with stats, but if accurate how is the game 1-1?

 

Bolton scored in the 61st, still 1-1 in 83rd.

*Ended in a draw. 15 fouls on Bolton jump out.

 

Derby, Cardiff, Fulham, Bristol City, Preston:


Villa? Wouldn't you like a draw too? Join the club - it's fun!

 

Highlights from Bolton:


Given how we played a draw was deserved, but Le Fondre's goal was pretty spectacular. An absolutely perfectly placed volley. I haven't watched the full 90, but after listening and seeing the FFCTV highlights it seems that we were lacking width. I just didn't see Fredericks involved enough. Often when we did attack it seemed to be going up through the middle, but I think we've had the most success when crossing in from the wings. I'm not sure if Jokanovic was trying something different or if the Bolton defense was forcing us inside, but I didn't like the resulting lack of scoring.

Villa beat Birmingham and moves up to second, so not everyone gets a draw.

 

Wow. Can't believe that run by Johansen at the end of the clips. That was a monumental breakdown by the Bolton defense.

 

This one feels more like a loss than a draw. If one...just ONE of the four strikers we fielded on the day can somehow hit the board, we win. I'll grant you, leFondre's effort was top class, it still feels like a loss. Villa have vaulted into second, so we're about to find out if we have any chance to catch them or whomever occupies that spot. Wolves are probably too far out, but never say never. We've just got to start finding a way to win the most winnable matches to give it a proper go. This is not a positive result. And after last season, the playoff roulette wheel doesn't do much for me (although it IS better than finishing 7th or worse). Still, with the talent we've got, I like our chances. Would really like to put it to Terry this time.