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As Halloween approaches, what better time to put an end to one of the longest curses at Wanderers?
It is 25 years since a Bolton team last went to Fulham and claimed three points, making it the most inhospitable venue outside the Premier League.
In 13 attempts the Whites have taken just four points, and have scored just seven times.
It has not been a happy hunting ground for managers, either. A particularly harrowing 4-0 defeat at the Cottage signalled the end for Dougie Freedman and the much-maligned Gary Megson lasted just one more month after Damien Duff snatched a late equaliser in 2009.
But Phil Parkinson is confident his side head to West London in high spirits after a welcome upturn in form over the last fortnight.
“I think since the Aston Villa game there has been a steady improvement,” he told The Bolton News. “We have been able to get players back into the side and that has given the players a lift. The result against Sheffield Wednesday did the same for the fans.
“Saturday (against QPR) was disappointing in that you always want three points when you have led a game but there were aspects of the performance which pleased me and we’ll take the point.
“When you think back to all the travelling we did in September and hoping our luck would turn, I think it will be a different feeling going to Fulham.”
A quarter of a century ago, Bruce Rioch’s side went to Craven Cottage having shown a few signs of improvement following the arrival of David Lee and John McGinlay but still sitting 16th a full six points off the play-off positions.
Just 4,049 fans were present at the Cottage as Lee scored his first goal in Bolton colours. Andy Walker also bagged a brace and Alan Stubbs added a fourth in the first of five consecutive victories which propelled the team up the table.
The only ground at which Wanderers have had worse luck is Anfield.
Although there have been a couple of memorable cup nights on the red half of Merseyside, the Whites have not managed to win a league game there since 1954.
Dennis Stevens scored his first Football League goal in a 2-1 win, with Willie Moir supplying the other to keep Bolton fifth in Division One and Liverpool rock bottom.
There are a handful of grounds at which Wanderers have NEVER won but have played at on only a few occasions.
No Bolton side has ever won a league game at Colchester United, Walsall, Scunthorpe, Rochdale, MK Dons and Yeovil.
Notts County is another venue which has traditionally brought bad results, with the last victory coming in 1980. Since then there have been eight winless attempts, the last of which was in 1995.
Local rivals Blackpool and Derby – who host Parkinson’s men in April – are also famously unwelcoming.
Not since 1977 has a Bolton side won at Bloomfield Road – spanning 10 attempts – while the wait for a win at Derby goes all the way to 1981 in the old Baseball Ground days. Wanderers have played 12 games at the Rams since, with little return.
Last season, Wanderers ended their longest league jinx by beating neighbouring Bury at Gigg Lane for the first time in 87 years.
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It is 25 years since a Bolton team last went to Fulham and claimed three points, making it the most inhospitable venue outside the Premier League.
In 13 attempts the Whites have taken just four points, and have scored just seven times.
It has not been a happy hunting ground for managers, either. A particularly harrowing 4-0 defeat at the Cottage signalled the end for Dougie Freedman and the much-maligned Gary Megson lasted just one more month after Damien Duff snatched a late equaliser in 2009.
But Phil Parkinson is confident his side head to West London in high spirits after a welcome upturn in form over the last fortnight.
“I think since the Aston Villa game there has been a steady improvement,” he told The Bolton News. “We have been able to get players back into the side and that has given the players a lift. The result against Sheffield Wednesday did the same for the fans.
“Saturday (against QPR) was disappointing in that you always want three points when you have led a game but there were aspects of the performance which pleased me and we’ll take the point.
“When you think back to all the travelling we did in September and hoping our luck would turn, I think it will be a different feeling going to Fulham.”
A quarter of a century ago, Bruce Rioch’s side went to Craven Cottage having shown a few signs of improvement following the arrival of David Lee and John McGinlay but still sitting 16th a full six points off the play-off positions.
Just 4,049 fans were present at the Cottage as Lee scored his first goal in Bolton colours. Andy Walker also bagged a brace and Alan Stubbs added a fourth in the first of five consecutive victories which propelled the team up the table.
The only ground at which Wanderers have had worse luck is Anfield.
Although there have been a couple of memorable cup nights on the red half of Merseyside, the Whites have not managed to win a league game there since 1954.
Dennis Stevens scored his first Football League goal in a 2-1 win, with Willie Moir supplying the other to keep Bolton fifth in Division One and Liverpool rock bottom.
There are a handful of grounds at which Wanderers have NEVER won but have played at on only a few occasions.
No Bolton side has ever won a league game at Colchester United, Walsall, Scunthorpe, Rochdale, MK Dons and Yeovil.
Notts County is another venue which has traditionally brought bad results, with the last victory coming in 1980. Since then there have been eight winless attempts, the last of which was in 1995.
Local rivals Blackpool and Derby – who host Parkinson’s men in April – are also famously unwelcoming.
Not since 1977 has a Bolton side won at Bloomfield Road – spanning 10 attempts – while the wait for a win at Derby goes all the way to 1981 in the old Baseball Ground days. Wanderers have played 12 games at the Rams since, with little return.
Last season, Wanderers ended their longest league jinx by beating neighbouring Bury at Gigg Lane for the first time in 87 years.
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