Wanderers 0, Fulham 0 by Gordon Sharrock
WANDERERS failed again to claim their first home victory since August 28 but they showed how much progress they have made since following Fulham into the Premiership last May.
A year ago, Jean Tigana's Cottagers, completely dominated this fixture, effectively passing Wanderers off the park. But this was a completely different story.
Fulham again looked good but Wanderers looked even better in a game full of attractive football.
All that was missing was a cutting edge. Both defences did their jobs
well and, apart from two Kevin Nolan shots that tested Edwin Van Der Sar in the closing minutes of the first half, neither keeper was seriously troubled.
Wanderers had their heroes at the back and in midfield. Gudni Bergsson had one of his most impressive games in Bolton colours, Mike Whitlow was not far behind in the credit ratings and in midfield Nolan, Paul Warhurst, Ricardo Gardner and Per Frandsen proved more than a match for Jean Tigana's cultured quartet.
The only time Fulham threatened was when substitute Luis Boa Borte wrong-footed Bergsson and coaxed Jaaskelainen out of his goalmouth but Sean Davis fired over the unguarded goal.
Wanderers: Jaaskelainen; N'Gotty, Bergsson, Whitlow, Charlton,
Gardner, Frandsen, Warhurst, Nolan, Wallace, Ricketts. Subs: Holdsworth for Gardner 75 mins, Farrelly for Frandsen 84 mins. Not used: Barness, Johnson, Poole.
Fulham: Van Der Sar, Finnan, Melville, Goma, Brevett, Legwinski, Collins, Malbranque, Davis, Saha, Hayles. Sub: Clark for Malbranque 68 mins, Boa Morte for Hayles 68 mins. Not used: Symons,
Goldbaek, Taylor.
Referee: Mike Dean (Wirral).
Attendance: 23,848.
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