Elmander miss costs Bolton badly-needed points

Bolton were denied a desperately-needed win over Fulham when Kevin Davies’s last-minute header was disallowed in a dramatic finale to an otherwise uninspiring goalless draw at the Reebok Stadium.

Bolton’s captain started to celebrate but his effort was quickly disallowed because of a push and Owen Coyle’s struggling side were left to rue substitute Johan Elmander’s failure to take an even better chance moments earlier.

Fulham’s preparations for the match were disrupted when Bobby Zamora went down sick, forcing Roy Hodgson to play Scandinavian pair Erik Nevland and David Elm up front.

Kagisho Dikgacoi also came in for Fulham while Bolton were forced to bring in Andy O’Brien for injured centrback Gary Cahill. Loan signings Vladimir Weiss and Jack Wilshere were on the bench.

Fulham were first to make a positive impression with Elm going close from a corner while Israeli midfielder Tamir Cohen lifted Bolton’s first chance over the bar after being set up by Mark Davies.

The visitors goalkeeper, Mark Schwarzer, was called into action when Matt Taylor’s free-kick found Sam Ricketts but the Australia goalkeeper was not perturbed by the resulting header.

With the two sides cancelling each other out, goalmouth incidents were few and far between, although things improved in the run-up to half-time.

Fabrice Muamba surged forward for Bolton and, after his shot was partly blocked, Mark Davies might have made more of the chance that resulted.

He quickly made amends however. After Kevin Davies knocked down Lee Chung Yong’s cross, Mark Davies unleashed a first-time shot that Schwarzer palmed onto the post.

Dikgacoi limped off ten minutes into the second half to be replaced by Dickson Etuhu while Bolton went for broke by replacing Mark Davies with Swedish striker Elmander.

Taylor and Kevin Davies both spurned chances to seriously test Schwarzer while Fulham failed to take advantage when Jussi Jaaskelainen dropped a Jonathan Greening cross.

Bolton introduced Weiss with 20 minutes left and the Slovakian had an immediate impact, cutting in from the left to unleash a shot that was deflected for a corner.

Bolton were looking the more likely winners and Elmander should have clinched all three points after being played in by Kevin Davies but contrived to fire wide from close range.

Kevin Davies then headed in from a Lee corner but the referee had spotted a push by the Bolton captain.