Fulham have been playing their football at the home of West London neighbours Queens Park Rangers for the past two years whilst the future of their 108 year old home was being finalised.
The Wanderers started their 2004-2005 campaign superbly by defeating Charlton Athletic 4-1 at the Reebok Stadium last weekend whilst the Cottagers earned a creditable point away from home at Manchester City with the ever impressing youngster Collins John netting an equaliser.
Fulham have a good record against Bolton in the Premiership with the Trotters never having beaten their London counterparts in six attempts. Last season Chris Coleman's team were one of few teams to do the double over the Lancashire side made possible with an impressive 2-0 away win on the final day of the 2003-2004 season courtesy of a Brian McBride double.
Bolton boss Sam Allardyce goes into the encounter with no fresh injury concerns and is pleased to have added Liverpool striker El-Hadji Diouf to the squad. Diouf has agreed to switch from Anfield on loan but will not play unless he can gain clearance and a work permit in time. Danish international Henrik Pedersen is likely to keep his place in attack alongside Kevin Davies following his two goal showing last weekend with both Les Ferdinand and Michael Bridges jostling to cover from the substitutes bench.
Ricardo Gardner faces a race against time to get to the game following international duty with Jamaica but it is expected that the 25-year old wing back will take his place in the Bolton defence. Radhi Jaidi, Gary Speed and Jussi Jaaskelainen are all expected to come back injury free following mid-week national action for their country.
The Fulham chief Chris Coleman is set to hand home debuts to summer recruits Papa Diop, Tomasz Radzinski, Andy Cole and former Wanderer Claus Jensen as they look to continue their fine recent record against their Lancashire opponents. The previously mentioned Dutch youngster John will have done his chances of a first team recall no harm at all following his introduction at the City of Manchester Stadium.
Last season in the corresponding fixture at Loftus Road a goal from Kevin Davies wasn't enough to keep Bolton's fine winter run going. Two goals in quick succession by Facunda Sava and Sean Davis, now of Spurs, sent the Londoners to victory.
The last time the Wanderers defeated Fulham at Craven Cottage was in the 1992-1993 season when an Andy Walker double gave Bolton a 4-1 win. David Lee, then on loan from Southampton and Alan Stubbs got the other goals with Jeff Eckhardt getting the Fulham goal.
LAST SEASON
06/12/2003 FULHAM 2 BOLTON WANDERERS 1, (PREMIERSHIP)
15/05/2004 BOLTON WANDERERS 0 FULHAM 2, (PREMIERSHIP)
PLAYED FOR BOTH
Peter Beardsley
Dave Clement
John Dreyer
Claus Jensen
Steve McAnespie
Gerry Peyton
Martin Pike
John Salako
Mark Walton