The Wanderers second half performance proved to be decisive in sealing the win against a Cottagers side who went in search of claiming their first three points on the road this season.

Early on in the game the Trotters defence where tested by lively Icelandic striker Heidar Helguson, a player looking to add to his impressive recent run of form.

Only seconds into the first half the Londoners gave their Lancashire hosts a huge warning as to what they where about as the afformentioned Helguson rattled the crossbar following a dangerous ball into the area by midfielder Simon Elliott.

Towering England defender Zat Knight then saw his shot from the resulting corner kick blocked by the Wanderers defence but it is fair to say that Chris Coleman's side looked a ongoing threat going forward throughout the afternoon just as they did in the fixture down at Craven Cottage in November.

The visitors looked to exploit Bolton's right hand side as Luis Boa-Morte and the on-loan Chelsea full back Wayne Bridge combined well to try and catch out young Irish international Joey O'Brien.

A Stelios Giannakopoulos corner from the right made it's way through to Bruno N'Gotty on eight minutes and the veteran Frenchman uncharacteriscally tried to beat goalkeeper Warner with an acrobatic shot.

This effort was followed up by a low shot from Kevin Nolan which was saved by Warner after Giannakopoulos low free kick on the left channel had caught the Fulham defence off their guard.

On 22 minutes Fulham took the lead when New Zealander Elliott pumped a deep free kick into the area and onto the head of former Watford player Helguson who planted the ball past Jussi Jaaskelainen having got in between two Bolton defenders.

Five minutes later Jay-Jay Okocha's rasping free kick went just over at the other end in a contest which was entertaining yet marred only slightly by some countless and often debatable offside decisions by the referees assistants.

Kevin Davies had a chance to increase his goal tally for the season and pull the hosts back into it on the half hour but the Bolton forward was thwarted by Warner who was only playing due to an injury to Antti Niemi in the warmup.

Five minutes before the break Fulham should have doubled their advantage in the game. However, no one was able to get onto the end of a dangerous Luis Boa-Morte cross from the left which flashed across the face of goal.

This missed opportunity proved to be a blessing in disguise for the Trotters as they drew level on half time thanks to some hesitant defending by Fulham. Stelios Giannakopoulos corner was cleared back into the path of the Greek who crossed for Bruno N'Gotty. Goalkeeper Warner made a smart save to deny the Frenchman but both Carlos Bocanegra and goalscorer Helguson went for the same ball thus resulting in the ball hitting the back of the net.

There was no question that Bolton had pulled themselves level but confusion remained as to who the goalscorer was, even Reebok Stadium tannoy announcer Colin McGreavy was unsure.

The goal was initially handed to American defender Bocanegra but replays later showed that striker Helguson had got the final touch on the ball, either way it was an own goal, Wanderers went into the half-time interval all square..

Just as it had done in reverse during the game with Marseille a few days ago, the Bolton goal had brought about a spirited performance from the Wanderers in the early part of the second half with Fulham struggling to get shots in on goal.

Immediately after the re-start a pin-point cross into the visitors area by Wanderers full back O'Brien fell perfectly for Davies but the striker was unable to control the ball well and ended up colliding with the post.

Ten minutes later Okocha provided a sublime cross into the area which Abdoulaye Faye headed over. This chance proved to be Faye's last action of the game and he was more or less immediately replaced by Gary Speed.

On 68 minutes the killer goal came by way of the excellent Nolan who persisted well down the left to shrug off two Fulham defenders and plant the ball past Warner..

This goal was a wake up call for Fulham who aimed to drag themselves back into the game with an equaliser. The Londoners exerted a large amount of pressure in the final quarter of an hour but some good goalkeeping by Jaaskelainen kept out Bocanegra amongst others.

Substitute Collins John also had a perfect chance to snatch a point at the death but he hesitated with his shot meaning that the hosts defence where able to clear their lines.

On reflection a well earned win against a very skilfull Fulham team who can give many teams problems when playing the style they played today. For Bolton it marked the end of a winless run stretching back to the end of January and also boosted hopes of a second successive European campaign.

Bolton Wanderers: Jussi Jaaskelainen, Joey O'Brien, Bruno N'Gotty, Radhi Jaidi, Ricardo Gardner, Abdoulaye Diagne-Faye (Gary Speed), Jay-Jay Okocha (Tal Ben-Haim), Hidetoshi Nakata (Ricardo Vaz-Te), Stelios Giannakopoulos, Kevin Davies, Kevin Nolan

Subs Not Used: Ian Walker, Jared Borgetti

Fulham: Tony Warner, Moritz Volz, Zat Knight, Carlos Bocanegra, Wayne Bridge, Tomasz Radzinski (Papa Bouba Diop), Simon Elliott, Steed Malbranque, Luis Boa-Morte, Brian McBride (Collins John), Heidar Helguson

Subs Not Used: Liam Rosenior, Niclas Jensen, Alain Goma

Referee:

Phil Dowd

Attendance:

23,104

Booked:

Luis Boa-Morte (Fulham)

Kevin Nolan (Bolton)

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