Fulham vs Bolton Wanderers: Fulham can push Gary Megson towards the exit
Fulham come into this game in good form with key players again available, Bolton are in the relegation zone and face a hard winter.
Fulham's 3-0 win over Blackburn on Wednesday moved the London club into the top half of the table and another season finishing in top seven cannot be dismissed. The news that Brede Hangeland has signed a new contract should be a boost (although it is remarkable how many players go off the ball after signing a contract) as should more involvement from Danny Murphy and Andrew Johnson. Fulham can move up to sixth with a win and if the form showed in the second half on Wednesday is maintained then this fixture will hold no fears. Fulham have scored 9 and conceded 5 in the last five league games, losing just once.
Fulham last 5 league games
Blackburn (h) 3-0
Birmingham (a) 0-1
Wigan (a) 1-1
Liverpool (h) 3-1
Man City (a) 2-2
Bolton are in a relegation fight - there is no other way to describe a team in the bottom three that is being rolled over so often and by such margins. Fortunately as Wigan, Wolves, Portsmouth, West Ham and Hull have proved recently there are no shortage of poor teams in the division - so it is a matter of grinding some results out through the winter months and better those teams if Gary Megson's team is to stay up. The grinding nature of the team is what upsets the fans, but Megson's revelation that he feels that a couple of players are undermining results (I guess he means 'undermining Gary Megson') is stopping even that from working. You get the feeling that if Megson can't grind out a win or two before Christmas then he will have to go; but whether he goes or stays it will take a remarkable turnaround for Bolton to get clear of the mess they are in. Bolton have conceded 15 goals in the last 5 league games, winning once.
Bolton last 5 league games
Blackburn (h) 0-2
Aston Villa (a) 1-5
Chelsea (h) 0-4
Everton (h) 3-2
Man Utd (a) 1-2
Fulham vs Bolton Wanderers; Kick Off 3:00pm 28 Nov 2009
Prediction Panel
Our panel contains both Squarefootball writers and readers, the writers are marked: (sqf).
Dave Blackburn : 3 - 0
Chris Cox : TBC
Graham Enwright : 3 - 1
Sue Gardener : 3 - 2
Chris Goodwin : 2 - 0
Paul Grech (sqf) : TBC
Colin Illingworth (sqf) : 2 - 1
Hugh Larkin (sqf) : 1 - 0
Peter Lee : 2 - 0
Don McMahon : 0 - 1
Antony Melvin (sqf) : 1 - 1
Paul O'Meara (sqf) : TBC
Dave Nash : 2 - 0
Stephen Orford (sqf) : TBC
Tony Ratton : 2 - 1
Peter Rendle : 2 - 0
Dan Taylor : 2 - 0
Nick Tomkins : TBC
Bill Urban (sqf) : TBC
Andy Wakeman : 1 - 0
Isaac Williams : 2 - 1
Mark Williams : TBC
Panel Verdict
The panel is expecting a 2-0 Fulham win.
Home: 13; Draw: 1; Away: 1; TBC: 6.
* Do we have it right, or do you know better? Please don't bother with derisory comments on the predictions after the match - unless you also pulled us up before it!
