Fulham played Bolton to level par today as the Whites away woes were somewhat bandaged with an away draw. Fulham were without Clint Dempsey, John Paintsil, Paul Konchesky, Simon Davies, and Bobby Zamora, while Andy Johnson was shelved for the season with exploratory surgery mid week. The starting lineup resembled what the reserves looked like with a Scandinavian front line of Viking Erik Nevland and Swede David Elm starting his first Premiership match, a midfield containing Kagisho Dikgacoi and Jonathan Greening, and Chris Baird at right back. New signings Nickey Shorey and Stephano Okaka seeing time, the former starting and the later coming on in the second half. The tell tale sign of the injury crisis at the Cottage saw Manchester United new boy defender Chris Smalling inserted at striker for the last fifteen minutes! Halfway through the second half KD was subbed out for an injury that apparently could be quite serious as well.

Fulham uncomfortably sit 10^thcurrently in the Premiership, but with a weaker February schedule and the returns of some of the players in the infirmary, we Fulham faithful fully expect to find earlier form and challenge for a European spot. Zamora, Konchesky, and Davies are all expected to get back onto the pitch before the end of the month,and while Paintsil may be out for the season, Dempsey is due back in training in the next two weeks. 

The FACup draw should give Fulham a pass into the quarterfinals without stretching an already thin line, while a tough home and away sequence in the round of 32 of the Europa League against Shaktar Donestk may make that line even more stretched. Fortunately, the first leg is at home, and if we are to be throttled or if were the ones who do the throttling, you’ll see a youth side in the away leg.

Written by Thomas Mollison, the Official Fulham Blogger of the Goalmouth Scramble, Tom is also a major contributor for these other great sites!

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