Bolton v Fulham

Last updated : 13 August 2010 By BBC Sport

Fulham defender Philippe Senderos faces six months on the sidelines after rupturing his Achilles tendon.

The London club will also be without winger Damien Duff and striker Andrew Johnson, who both have knee problems.

Bolton

Injured: McCann (ankle), J O'Brien (knee)

Fulham

Injured: Duff & A Johnson (both knee), Senderos (Achilles)

MATCH PREVIEW

No club has spent more seasons in the top flight than Bolton without winning the title, and while Premier League champions may be an ambition too far, there are high hopes at the Reebok that Wanderers can establish themselves as a top-10 club under Owen Coyle.

We've had a great pre-season and we can't wait for Saturday to come around

Bolton boss Owen Coyle

The former Burnley boss has revitalised the club and his attempts to replace his side's aggressive long-ball style with a more fluid passing game are slowly taking shape.

Tight budgets mean Coyle will have to make do with largely the same squad that finished 14th last season, but the signing of winger Martin Petrov on a free transfer from Manchester City may prove to be one of the most astute pieces of business in the Premier League this summer.

The template for Bolton are Saturday's opponents Fulham, who have enjoyed a stellar two seasons in the Premier League and Europe. Mark Hughes will lead the Cottagers out for the first time this weekend as he begins the difficult task of replacing Roy Hodgson, who left for Liverpool in the summer.

Hughes has only had one pre-season friendly to prepare for the new campaign, a 5-1 thumping of Werder Bremen. His first challenge will be to improve Fulham's miserable away form - in the last three Premier League seasons, they have picked up only seven wins on the road, with just one of those coming last term.

MATCH FACTS

Head-to-head

• Fulham have won just once in their last six trips to Bolton.

• Bolton's last victory over the Cottagers came in February 2007, a 2-1 win at the Reebok.

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Bolton

• This is the fifth Premier League season in succession that Bolton have kicked-off the new season at home.

• Kevin Davies has conceded the most fouls in six of the last seven Premier League campaigns. His total of 121 in 2009-10 was his highest ever.

• Bolton committed more fouls than any team in the league last season (564).

Fulham

• Fulham have scored one goal in each of their last four opening-day games.

• Fulham scored 69% of their goals last season in the second half, the highest proportion in the league.

• They scored a higher proportion of long-range goals than any other side last season, with 23% of their strikes coming from outside the box.

LEADING GOALSCORERS 2009/10

Bolton

K Davies: 9 goals (7 league); Klasnic: 8 goals (8 league); M Taylor: 8 goals (8 league)

Fulham

Zamora: 19 goals (8 league); Gera: 10 goals (2 league)

MATCH OFFICIALS

Referee: Stuart Attwell

Assistant referees: Martin Yerby & Adam Watts

Fourth official: Scott Mathieson

LAST LEAGUE MATCH LINE-UPS

Bolton (W2-1 v Birmingham, h): Jaaskelainen; Robinson, Cahill, Knight, Steinsson, Muamba, Taylor (Holden 66), Wilshere (Gardner 90), Weiss (Lee 65), Davies, Klasnic. Subs not used: Al Habsi, Samuel, Ricketts, Davies.

Fulham (L0-4 v Arsenal, a): Schwarzer; Pantsil (Kelly 58), Baird, Shorey, Smalling, Riise (Elm 46), Dempsey (Stoor 67), Greening, Dikgacoi, Okaka Chuka, Nevland. Subs not used: Zuberbuhler, Gera, Murphy, Davies.

Source: BBC Sport

Source: BBC Sport