Fulham v Bolton preview

Fulham aim to keep winning run going at Craven Cottage

By Steve Pass   Last updated: 12th September 2008   Subscribe to RSS Feed

Fulham v Bolton preview

Smolarek: No debut

PREDICTIONS:

Skysports.com prediction: Fulham 1 Bolton 0

SKY BET odds: Fulham 6/5, Draw 21/10, Bolton 5/2

One to Watch: Andy Johnson

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Fulham go into their home tie with Bolton full of confidence on the back of two victories at Craven Cottage.

Roy Hodgson's men enjoyed a dream victory over Arsenal in their first home league game, and then followed this up with a Carling Cup win over Leicester before the international break.

They won both those games by a one-goal margin and it could well be a tight affair again as Bolton will be physical and well organised.

Andy Johnson is set to make his Fulham debut after a thigh injury kept him out of the opening day defeat at Hull and the win over Arsenal, as could winger Julian Gray following his transfer deadline day loan switch from Coventry.

Midfielder Leon Andreasen sustained a groin injury playing in an unaccustomed right-back role for Denmark in their shock 3-2 away win over Portugal, but it is not seen as a major injury problem.

Left-back Paul Konchesky missed the Leicester game through injury and may return, but striker Diomansy Kamara (knee) is a long-term casualty and long-serving goalkeeper Antti Niemi has retired following a troublesome wrist injury.

Bolton news

Gary Megson's men have made a solid start to their Premier League campaign, picking up four points from their opening three games.

But the Trotters have failed to find the net in their last two league games since their 3-1 victory over Stoke on the opening day of the season.

Despite this lack of goals, Megson has resisted handing new loan signing Ebi Smolarek his debut at Fulham.

The Polish marksman was on target for his country in Wednesday's World Cup qualifier win against San Marino, but Megson believes the striker is yet to reach the physical level required to cope with the rigours of the English top flight.

Instead, Megson could start with the side which played out the goalless draw against West Brom.

Midfielder Fabrice Muamba should be available after he suffered an ankle knock in England U21s' European Championship qualifier against Portugal.

Ricardo Gardner should feature after he played for Jamaica in midweek, but striker Johan Elmander is still out with a hamstring injury, as is midfielder Matt Taylor with a broken toe, while defender Gary Cahill is suspended.

Possible starting XIs

Fulham: Schwarzer, Stoor, Hughes, Hangeland, Konchesky, Davies, Bullard, Murphy, Andreasen, Zamora, Johnson.

Bolton: Jaaskelainen, Steinsson, A O'Brien, Shittu, Samuel, J'O Brien, Gardner, Nolan, McCann, Muamba, Davies.

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