Fulham 4-0 Bolton Wanderers

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Fulham beat Bolton 4-0 to move above them in the Championship.Image source, Getty Images
Image caption,

Fulham boast a 100% league record under caretaker manager Kit Symons

Fulham thrashed fellow strugglers Bolton for their third successive win under caretaker manager Kit Symons to increase the pressure on opposite number Dougie Freedman.

Hugo Rodallega slotted in the opener before Fernando Amorebieta headed in.

Bolton offered little, with Darren Pratley going closest with a volley.

Instead, Fulham took control as Lasse Vigen Christensen tapped in and Tim Hoogland drilled home as the Cottagers moved above Bolton into 22nd.

After losing seven of their first eight games under previous boss Felix Magath, Fulham have now collected six points from two games and need two points to move out of the bottom three.

The defeat for Bolton, though, will put further pressure on manager Freedman.

Match facts

Fulham have won their last three games in all competitions, after winning only one of their first nine games this season

Bolton have won only one of their last seven games in all competitions, losing the last three

They have now won four of the last six meetings at Craven Cottage in all competitions, drawing one and losing one

They have lost six of their seven away games in all competitions this season, winning one

They have just five points, having won once all season and drop to 23rd.

Fulham, fresh from beating Birmingham 2-1 last-time out, were confident from the outset and Ross McCormack had the ball in the net within minutes of kick-off, but it was ruled out for offside.

Their opener came soon after, though, as Rodallega pounced on a defensive error by Matt Mills to slot in his third of the season.

Media caption,

Kit Symons on Fulham v Bolton

Bolton keeper Andy Lonergan tipped Konstantinos Stafylidis's 20-yard strike on to the post as Fulham pressed in search of a second, which arrived in first-half stoppage time as Amorebieta headed in Bryan Ruiz's cross.

Bolton's only effort of note in the first-half was Pratley's strike, which grazed the top of the crossbar.

Any hopes of getting back into the game were ended for the away side midway through the second half when Danish youngster Christensen grabbed his first goal for the club, leaving Hoogland to wrap up the win when he drove the ball into the bottom corner for a late fourth.

Fulham caretaker manager Kit Symons:

"That performance and result certainly won't do me any harm.

"When I took over in I tried to galvanise the club and get everyone pulling together, and to start winning games, and on both counts it's going pretty well so far.

"It's a great feeling hearing the fans sing my name. I've had stadiums booing me before, when I played, so it's nice to have one cheering me now."

Bolton manager Dougie Freedman:

"It's a difficult job and it's proving to be more difficult that I thought but I feel very confident we can do it. Will I be given time? I think so.

"The performance was concerning. We've gifted them a goal once again. We've got to stop giving away silly goals.

"We need a result. I've told the players they are in a relegation battle, with a big 'R'."

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