Fulham vs Bolton match report: Kit Symons makes his case but Dougie Freedman left on the brink

Fulham 4 Bolton Wanderers 0

(Getty Images)

Fulham’s caretaker manager Kit Symons, who would love the job permanently, ticked another box or two as his charges won their third game in nine days, but in doing so he may have added an extra cross next to the name of Bolton’s Dougie Freedman.

The former Crystal Palace team-mates respectively enjoyed and endured very different evenings, at the end of which Fulham had climbed above their sorry opponents, although not yet out of the Championship’s bottom three.

After a Capital One Cup win over Doncaster and Saturday’s first league victory of the season at Birmingham, the “Famous Five” summoned by owner Shahid Khan to advise on the identity of Felix Magath’s successor will have been impressed by the spirit and coherence of Fulham’s performance under Symons. An away game against Middlesbrough on Saturday will provide the next, almost certainly tougher test.

Bolton, 14th last season, have beaten only Rotherham in this campaign and were mostly insipid. Symons has, however, clearly found a better blend than Magath, who threw too many youngsters in too soon. Only five of the team beaten at Ipswich on the opening day started last night while senior internationals like Bryan Ruiz and Hugo Rodallega have been recalled.

Ruiz was involved in the first three goals, and Rodallega scored his second in two games early on, taking advantage of defender Matt Mills slipping over. Bolton’s brief spells of pressure were comfortably repelled and in added time at the end of the first half Ruiz took an inswinging free-kick from out on the right and Fernando Amoriebieta rose between two defenders to head in.

The third goal after 67 minutes was a peach, Ruiz’s delicious pass allowing Rodallega to cross for Lasse Vigen Christensen, who then set up right-back Tim Hoogland for the fourth.

“We’ve got our Fulham back,” the Hammersmith End sang. Like the players, they must believe they have awoken from a bad dream.

Bolton’s woe continues, after a single win in 10 games, and this fifth straight away defeat. Freedman has already faced calls for his dismissal and those fans who made the long journey last night will hardly be inclined to give him the benefit of the doubt.

Fulham (4-4-2): Bettinelli; Hoogland, Bodurov, Burn, Amorebieta; Parker (Williams, 71), Christensen, Stafylidis, Ruiz; Rodallega (Woodrow, 78), McCormack (Roberts, 80). Substitutes not used Kiraly, Smith, George, Hyndman, Kavanagh.

Bolton (4-2-3-1): Lonergan; Herd, Mills (M Davies, 52), Dervite, Moxey; Spearing, Ream; Danns, Pratley (Mason, 53), Feeney; C Davies (Beckford, 52). Substitutes not used Kenny, Garvan, Lee, Kamara. Booked Herd, M Davies.

Referee S Attwell (Warwickshire).