‘Old School Bolton’ Buoyant By the Thames

Fulham 0-1 Bolton

Ivan Klasnic sent Bolton Wanderers through to the quarter finals of the FA Cup with a well timed volley after 19 minutes at Craven Cottage.

The Croatian netted the only goal of the game in an exciting all Premier League encounter.

Bolton are rarely pretty, and today was no exception. Once criticised for their physicality in seasons under Sam Allardyce, they’ve recently played attractive football under the stewardship of Owen Coyle. However, the Trotters reverted to their old selves in order to bludgeon Fulham out of the game.

Fulham struggled to find time or space and rarely tested Wanderers ‘keeper Adam Bogdan. The Cottagers lack of composure in the final third was mirrored in the back line too. Chung-Yong Lee drove into the box and delivered a crisp cross which the home side failed to clear and the grateful Klasnic slammed home past the beleaguered Mark Schwarzer to put the visitors ahead.

Controversial referee Stuart Attwell brought a frenetic first half to a close, but only after halting play, with Andy Johnson through on goal, to stop Mark Hughes chasing the assistant referee to Putney Bridge. The Welshman feeling things weren’t going his side’s way.

Hughes’ vented his anger in a positive manner at the interval though and a rejuvenated Fulham returned looking to force the issue. Clint Dempsey had many opportunities to equalise, though his shots were regularly high, wide and not so handsome.

However, on 67 minutes, cue delirium. The return of Fulham’s hero, Bobby Zamora brought on for Zoltan Gera after several months out with a broken leg.

He too had a case of ‘Dempsey-itis’ though and spurned two half chances. The first, an untidy scoop over the bar from 18 yards, followed by a tame shot at the flame-haired Hungarian Bogdan whose locks were reminiscent of the clash that over 19,500 were witnessing – fiery yet scruffy.

Zamora is arguably Fulham’s modern day Nat Lofthouse, a prolific centre forward, a talisman who rarely gives an inch. However, it was not to be his day as he was outmuscled by David Wheater and the impressive Gary Cahill.

The English centre half duo are imperative to Owen Coyle’s men honouring their prodigal son, Lofthouse, in the most fitting way possible – a Wembley appearance just months after his passing.