Fulham vs Bolton preview - Jol wants winning return

Posted Saturday, December 17, 2011 by PA

Manager Martin Jol believes Fulham can get back to winning ways against Bolton - even without Bobby Zamora.

The Cottagers suffered last-gasp heartache in the Europa League on Wednesday, with Odense netting a stoppage-time equaliser that saw them miss out on the knockout stage.

Jol admitted the players were still in shock on Thursday but are in a positive mindset ahead of Bolton's visit to Craven Cottage.

"There is always some positives in everything," Jol said. "It was awful. It was a shock to go out in the dying seconds of the game, allowing them to have a break and get in a perfect cross.

"It is all well [looking back at it] in hindsight but we can focus now on the games in the league. If you look at the league table, we need to focus on wins and getting points on the board.

"We need to try and win these home games [like Bolton]. We talked about it, we look forward now and we don't have to play all these matches [across Europe]."

While confident of a positive response, Jol revealed Zamora could miss the match.

The England international has a medial ligament issue in his left knee and faces a late fitness test.

"Bobby Zamora has got a little problem with his left knee and we will make an assessment [on Saturday]," Jol said.

"We are still confident that he can feature.

"Steve Sidwell's not involved still because of his hernia problem but he has had a couple of injections and hopefully he will be fit next week to join us again.

"[Danny] Murphy is back and 100% fit, although Simon Davies will miss out with a back injury."

Fulham will also be without influential goalkeeper Mark Schwarzer, who has been diagnosed with a compression injury to his thoracic spine.

The Australia international will miss up to six weeks with the problem picked up against Swansea last weekend, resulting in 21-year-old Neil Etheridge making his first-team debut against Odense.

England squad member David Stockdale will between the sticks after being recalled from a loan spell with Ipswich and Jol is confident in his ability.

"Mark's injury was a big disappointment because he is always fit to play and played all the matches," the Dutchman said.

"We had to give Neil Etheridge his debut and he is a big talent but Stockdale will be in goal and hopefully it will be four or five weeks rather than seven or eight with Schwarzer.

"That said, David gave us a very positive feeling last year when he came in.

"We called him back and of course he is a very talented guy. He did well in the last spell and there's no doubt he can't do a job for us."

Owen Coyle is determined to turn Bolton's fortunes around to pay back the fans who have been so good to him in his time as both a player and manager at the club.

Coyle was a popular figure during his two-year stint as a Trotters striker in the 1990s and, despite the team losing 12 out of their 15 Barclays Premier League matches this season under his guidance and sinking to the bottom of the table, there have been few dissenting voices against the Scot so far.

Coyle is grateful for the way he has been treated by the Bolton faithful and feels they deserve better than what they have seen from Wanderers of late.

"I was very fortunate to be here as a player and the fans were very kind," Coyle said. "They knew the type of player I was - not the best player in the world but I was wholehearted and I gave everything I could.

"That is the same now as a manager but you have to accept that the fans pay good money to come and support the club loyally, home and away, and we have to start giving them something back.

"As a manager I am doing everything I can, as are the staff, to help the players facilitate that.

"We know how football works, and we know how quickly it can change. We can win games and get a smile back on those fans' faces."

After the Fulham game, Bolton's remaining fixtures in 2011 see them travel to Blackburn before hosting Newcastle and Wolves.

Coyle added: "We have now been in the bottom three along with Blackburn and Wigan for a couple of months.

"It has not been enjoyable - it is hurting every day. There should be no fear attached to any of our players because for us the only way now is moving up.

"We are going to Fulham and there are games coming up to new year where we can pick points up."