Fulham 1-1 BWFC

2 - 1 Bolton

Preview: Five talking points ahead of Fulham v Bolton Wanderers

1. Back on the road

After almost a month without an away game - with the last coming on September 30 against Aston Villa - Wanderers are back on their travels this weekend as they head to the capital.

So far this term, the Whites have drawn two and lost four of their six Sky Bet Championship away fixtures with one of their stalemates coming in the capital back in August when they made the trip to Millwall.

Could Saturday yield our first league victory on our travels this season? Only time will tell.

2. Unbeaten run

Phil Parkinson's men head into this weekend's round of fixtures unbeaten in their last two games after picking up maximum points against Sheffield Wednesday before being denied all three late on against Queens Park Rangers last time out.

Fulham meanwhile have actually been more successful on their travels this term, with only one of their four wins so far coming at Craven Cottage coupled with four draws and one defeat on home soil.

And with the Cottagers having lost to Aston Villa last time out alongside drawing with Preston in their last home game a fortnight ago, Wanderers will be hoping that they can go one better than their local neighbours this Saturday.

3. Will Buckley?

Having seen his injury so far disrupted by a hamstring injury, this weekend could see Will Buckley come back into the fold.

The winger, who joined the club in the summer after leaving Sunderland, has figured on six occasions so far, the last of which came against Sheffield United back in early September.

And having given the Bolton faithful a taste of his abilities in his handful of appearances so far, this Saturday could be his time to shine as the Whites look to pick up their first away league victory on their travels in 2017/18.

4. Midfield duo

Arriving at Macron Stadium prior to our game against Bristol City last month, Karl Henry has been something of a revelation in midfield and has linked up well with skipper Darren Pratley.

The pair have formed a formidible partnership in the heart of the Trotters' midfield, with them earning plaudits galore from fans in recent weeks - something that both they and those associated with the club will be hoping to see once again this weekend.

5. Tim Ream

Saturday will also see Wanderers and a handful of our players come up against their former teammate and two-time BWFC Player of the Year, Tim Ream.

The American international made 126 appearances for the Whites in all competitions between January 2012 and August 2015 before moving to Craven Cottage where he has since gone on to become a permanent fixture for the London outfit.

Fast approaching his century for the Cottagers, those of a Bolton persuasian - although appreciative of his efforts whilst wearing the white of Wanderers - will be hoping to get one over on the defender this weekend.

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Can't for the life of me understand why Armstrong starts over ALF.

What was the point of signing Wilbraham if he won't even let him sit on the bench?

rammywhite wrote:What was the point of signing Wilbraham if he won't even let him sit on the bench?

Because we have a moonman of a manager

MartinBWFC wrote:Can't for the life of me understand why Armstrong starts over ALF.

Presumably because he has the pace and workrate to get the ball up the pitch when we're under the cosh? ALF is a bit of a luxury in this division because we aren't likely to get the ball in their box where he is effective very often.

So F **ken predictable!

observer wrote:So F **ken predictable!

It was - in post 1.

So F **ken predictable!

observer wrote:So F **ken predictable!

So Parkinson predictable, why oh why does he have them sit back protecting a slender lead? his mentality is all wrong for this league.

As predictable as the late winner from the manure.

3 games ago we had 2 points from 10 games though

It's a good point. If Fulham had scored after 53 minutes would we all be so pissed off? Of course not.

Yes, 23% possession is crap, but not unexpected.

We're 4 points off safety, that looked a dream only a couple of weeks ago.

We play Sunderland in a massive game on Tuesday - they're on a shit run, it would be nice if just for once we weren't the team to end it.

Natasha Whittam wrote:It's a good point. If Fulham had scored after 53 minutes would we all be so pissed off? Of course not.

Yes, 23% possession is crap, but not unexpected.

We're 4 points off safety, that looked a dream only a couple of weeks ago.

We play Sunderland in a massive game on Tuesday - they're on a shit run, it would be nice if just for once we weren't the team to end it.

What a sensible post. I'm so glad you've finally started taking your medication.

But you could say the same about the match last week.

Either way, there is an improvement in this side, it's hard to deny it. Not massive, and probably not big enough, but it's all slightly less depressing than it was a month ago.

Report: Fulham 1-1 Bolton Wanderers

Wanderers were denied victory at the death at Craven Cottage in their latest Sky Bet Championship clash against Fulham on Saturday afternoon.

Sammy Ameobi's first half effort looked to have secured victory for the Whites with him notching inside the opening half hour.

But Tom Cairney's injury-time header ensured that the spoils were shared come full time.

TEAM NEWS

Wanderers remained unchanged from the side that drew to QPR seven days’ earlier at Macron Stadium as they went in search of their first league victory at Craven Cottage for a quarter of a century.

FIRST HALF

Wanderers had an early sniff at goal just moments after the hosts got the game underway when Josh Vela intercepted the ball deep inside the Fulham half. His cross, intended for Gary Madine, took a deflection off a defender and fell into the grateful grasp of David Button.

The home fans thought their team had taken the lead on 15 minutes when Floyd Ayite slid the ball beyond Ben Alnwick after latching onto a pass from Tom Cairney. The assistant’s flag though dampened the premature celebrations after the frontman was caught offside.

Moments later Alnwick redeemed himself when his clearance when straight into the path of Cairney, whose probing run culminated in a weak shot straight at the Wanderers ‘keeper.

Adam Armstrong went on a charging run down the right hand side after picking up a through ball from Mark Beevers. But the on-loan frontman’s thunderous drive didn’t really trouble Button.

Wanderers took the lead just before the half hour mark thanks to Ameobi’s second of the campaign. Alnwick’s huge clearance was allowed to bounce by the Fulham defence and as a result Ameboi attracted the ball like a magnet before fending off the attentions of several defenders before slotting past Button to send the thousand-strong travelling Wanderers fans into a frenzy.

Kamara spurned a glorious chance to equalise after the hosts broke away at pace after a Wanderers foray. The striker tried to beat the advancing Alnwick from a tight angle but his shot clipped the outside of the post much to the dismay of the Craven Cottage faithful.

The Cottagers trudged off the field at half-time to a chorus of boos from their supporters, while Wanderers – who rode their luck at times – were good value for their lead.

SECOND HALF

Wanderers lost the services of Andrew Taylor moments after the restart after the defender received a painful looking blow to the hip area with Antonee Robinson coming on for him.

Alnwick was pressed into action when he dived to his right to gather a Ryan Sessegnon drive but Fulham had Button to thank for a spectacular save on 56 minutes when he tipped away an Armstrong curler that seemed destined to evade him.

Despite this, the hosts were stepping up their attacking threat with Wanderers defending like titans, throwing bodies in the way of everything to try and preserve their lead.

That said, they still harboured their own ambitions to add to the tally with Armstrong appearing intent to get off the mark in the league for Wanderers.

Parkinson made his second change after 68 minutes with Filipe Morais coming on for the goalscorer Ameobi.

David Wheater, epitomising the dogged resolve at the back, yet again found himself thwarting the Fulham frontline after he got in the way of numerous Fulham attacks.

Alnwick, too, was forced into a stunning crucial save when Kamara was put through. The Wanderers shot-stopper superbly got in the way of the forward’s effort after he looked destined to equalise for the hosts.

Adam Le Fondre came on for Vela as Wanderers looked to stymie Fulham’s late resurgence.

But the home side were rewarded in the fourth minute of injury time as Cairney headed home to snatch a point for the Cottagers.

FULL TIME

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It felt like a defeat in the end,where in the fuck did the ref get 6 minutes of injury time from? We have to try and keep the ball more though, 25% is bound to end up with us conceding.

In the end it was a point i wasn't expecting but heartbreaking to concede so late.

Norpig wrote:It felt like a defeat in the end,where in the fuck did the ref get 6 minutes of injury time from? We have to try and keep the ball more though, 25% is bound to end up with us conceding.

In the end it was a point i wasn't expecting but heartbreaking to concede so late.

I agree. A point,considering we had so little possession,is a decent result.

Had we been losing,the injury time would have been 3 minutes.

I have a complex.