Bolton v Fulham.......... Match Thread

There was an unofficial match thread set up on the black market "a big test" so I'll just do a copy and paste job to what I already said earlier. Apologies for the repeat.

I've always thought that Fulham on the road were a soft touch. Especially out of the capital and in breezy northern conditions. BBC stats tell me we've only won 1/7 at home against Fulham - losing 4 of the 7!

It does also tell me that Will Brown is a doubt with a calf and Will Buckley ankle. I thought Jim White had failed to pass on the information that on deadline day Bolton had broken their transfer record for this wonder kid Will Brown! (Possibly a relation to Phil Brown) after a wiki search im now assuming that bbc journalist have the same problem as me auto correct and it is Wilbraham who is out!

Other good stat from The Beeb is that we've picked up a single point when conceding first goal this season. Losing 14 times on the 15 occasions. So it's blindingly obvious to me that we need to come out of the traps.

Expect it to be the same as Bristol with us starting with Walker chasing everything down and trying to contain Fulham. 2nd half making a bit of a go of it.

Think this may be a 1-3 defeat, or a 2-1 win. (BBC stats making my question everything)

*********There was an unofficial match thread set up on the black market "a big test" ********* UNOFFICIAL  ??  whats unofficial?

I really don't want to sound bitter another Madine because there's no ill feeling and a huge amount of gratitude for now the taxman is paid. Allegedly.

Prior to the move I did say Gary may struggle as when you're in and around the playoffs and you go in January and spend big on a striker who instantly expect that player to give you that boost and Madine is not that type. If I'm honest I thought he and proctor were equals last season, no doubt Gary upped his game but I think Cardiff have better strikers.

Well that’s a shit start!!

Fantastic result that. Only our 2nd point when we've conceded first. No doubt about it these lads have a bit of fight about them. In terms of safety the point does little but for morale, confidence and team spirit that will feel like a victory.

Yeah credit to Phil he went back to his 5 at the back and got 4 points from 6 against two good teams. He also told ALF and Derick they didn't fit in - actually that debate can wait. Happy days come on England to complete a good Saturday.

Cold start. Dervite caught for second week running. Training ground goal 0.1. And a bad 20 mins followed.
But Ameobi and Clough were alwas threatening. Clough had a good shot on target and then straight at the keeper when he should have scored

It was uneasy at the back but we began to get into it through Robinson and Ameobi especially.

You could tell they were uneasy from the number of dubious injuries and the timewasting. The referee could surely have clamped down.?

If we needed further evidence for the argument that the post Madine era could be more productive that second half was it. Ameobi and Vela in due course went close but a wonder goal from Alf was the ultimate delight. Neat header by Robinson and left foot dipping cracker. Get in?

We held the advantage for a while but their better passing also created good chances. Once it seemed they must score

Good game. Very encouraging. Fair result. Ameobi really really good

Alnwick 7 Little 5 Wheater 6 Beevers 6 Robinson 7 Derik 6 Henry 6 Vela 7 Ameobi 9 Clough 6 Alf 7

After missing my first home match for years last Friday (thank you Sky TV) I was really looking forward to seeing how we would change our approach now that Madine has gone.

The first 20 minutes were horrific.

We started so slowly and Fulham just passed the ball around us. Andy is right when he says that Fulham’s goal was dreadful defending. A cross from the left, where Little was terrorised, Robinson outjumped at the far post for a header across goal where their left wing-back was unmarked 6 yards out to head home. I’m looking at Dervite for that one as it was his area of defence.

We have had 8 days since the Bristol match to devise a system of playing without Madine but in the early stages it didn’t look like it as we just lumped the ball forward at every opportunity – instantly losing possession every time.

Fulham were really bossing us at this stage and passing it around us. Wheater made an awful mistake from a high ball and left the Fulham centre forward clean through but Alnwick saved excellently with his legs.

So after 20 minutes we were easily second best but we slowly got into it.

Clough created some space on the left and put in a cracking shot which the keeper tipped over and we woke up a bit.

Clough then missed a real sitter when Ameobi poked the ball through to him, clean through but he shot straight at the keeper. Their keeper also saved a Vela long range shot.

Half time came. We were deservedly behind but had shown a spark or two.

Second half started and Fulham claimed all the initial possession but we fought back and really through endeavour remained in with a chance.

Fulham are a strange side in that they were so much better technically than us you would think that they would go for the kill. But they didn’t. Instead they set about wasting time. Taking forever over throw ins and goal kicks and falling over for free kicks endlessly. There was no need for it because they could pass and move around us so easily.

That was their undoing as we started to pressure them. Le Fondre and Morais replaced Clough and Little and we deservedly equalised. Robinson excellently won a header and nodded on to Le Fondre out on the left who spectacularly volleyed home from 25 yards. It’s hard to describe how good that goal was – watch it on the TV.

Fulham creaked badly then and passes started to go astray and we press well. Vela volleyed narrowly over and we were on top.

But Fulham are a very good side and eventually got control back and hammered us for the last 10 minutes.

They could have scored, possibly should have scored but we hung on and got an excellent point.

At the end, a point each was fair. They were a better footballing side but we battled and harried them and scored a wonderful goal.

A good game and I am delighted with a point.


Alnwick - 7 Very good save to stop it going 2-0 after Wheater howler and steady after that.

Little - 3 Horrendous. The first half was the worst I have seen him play. He played right wing back and was continually caught defensively and just poor attack wise.

Dervite - 6 Blame for Fulham goal. Some better defending later on. Seen the goal now - NOT his fault

Wheater - 5 One dreadful mistake let Fulham in for a chance of 2-0 and an all round flap in the first half. Second half more solid.

Beevers - 6 Best of a poor back 3.

Robinson - 7 Easily the best of the defence with some good attacking runs as wing back. He must learn his defensive duties though, i.e. do not try and dribble out of defence in the 91st minute.

Henry - 4 Got completely overrun. Just niggled in the first half, got booked. Calmed down a bit in the second but did little or nothing to stop the Fulham midfield totally overrunning us.

Derik - 4 Same as Henry. Allowed Fulham to overrun us. Those who hoped that Derik could pass the ball through midfield are sadly wrong as all he did when he got the ball was hoof it forward.

Ameobi - 7 Not quite a central striker but did well. Somehow won the ball well from a number of high hoofs. Went for the spectacular shot a couple of times in the second half when a pass to a colleague was on.

Vela - 6 Worked hard but Fulham still dominated him.

Clough - 6 One good shot and then a terrible miss when he shot straight at the Fulham keeper when clean through. Linked up reasonably with Ameobi.

Le Fondre - 7 Tremendous shot. He is a recognised goalscorer and has the instinct to provide moments like that. Why does our manager fail to see it?

Morais - 6 Steadied the right of defence when he replaced Little.