Adam Le Fondre climbs off bench to earn Bolton a point

Posted Sunday, February 11, 2018 by PA

Substitute Adam Le Fondre ended Fulham’s bid for a sixth successive Sky Bet Championship victory with a second-half equaliser to earn Bolton a 1-1 draw at the Macron Stadium.

On-loan Southampton defender Matt Targett gave Slavisa Jokanovic’s visitors a fifth-minute lead with his first ever league goal.

Stefan Johansen hit the post late on but the in-form Londoners, now unbeaten in nine games, couldn’t build on an electrifying start.

And Le Fondre punished them with a spectacular second goal of the season two minutes after coming on.

Fulham started superbly as Ryan Sessegnon crossed deep from the Fulham left, Lucas PIazon headed back across goal and an unmarked Targett headed in from four yards.

The Londoners should have doubled their advantage two minutes later.

David Wheater’s error left Rui Fonte one-on-one with Ben Alnwick but the keeper’s legs came to Wanderers’ rescue.

Targett was the recipient of a crude tackle by Mark Little that brought the Wanderers right-back a 17th-minute caution.

Eventually, Bolton discovered an attacking edge and Zach Clough tested Marcus Bettinelli for the first time.

The on-loan Forest striker cut in from the left before unleashing a fierce angled right-foot drive that Bettinelli pushed over the crossbar.

A series of injury stoppages disrupted Fulham’s flow and Bolton almost capitalised 11 minutes from half time.

Sammy Ameobi superbly controlled a long ball from the back on the edge of the Fulham area before teeing up Clough. But with only Bettinelli to beat from 16 yards, Clough struck his attempt straight at the keeper.

Karl Henry received the second Wanderers’ yellow card from referee Robert Jones before Dorian Dervitte blocked a Sessegnon shot just before half-time.

A double change early in the second half should have brought immediate dividends for Fulham.

Aleksander Mitrovic and Aboubaker Kamara replaced Piazon and Fonte after 51 minutes with Kamara failing to convert Stefan Johansen’s cross from five yards with his first touch.

Wanderers also introduced a brace of newcomers after 59 minutes, taking off Clough and Little for Le Fondre and Felipe Morais.

And this switch did instantly pay-off. There seemed little danger when Le Fondre collected the ball on the left edge of the Fulham area.

But his instant left-foot volley flew over Bettinelli’s head for his first goal since the opening day of the season.

Wanderers continued to rattle the visitors with Josh Vela narrowly firing over from distance and Ameobi having a goal disallowed for a foul on Bettinelli.

Fulham made their fourth substitution with 16 minutes left; Tom Cairney replacing Oliver Norwood. And they finished on top.

Mitrovic flashed a right-footed effort narrowly wide in the closing stages, headed straight at Alnwick while Johansen’s brilliant cross-field run deserved better than to strike the woodwork.