Fulham v Bolton

Barclays Premier League
Venue: Craven Cottage Date: Wednesday, 27 April Kick-off: 2000 BST
Coverage: Listen on BBC Radio 5 live and local radio; text commentary on BBC Sport website and mobiles

TEAM NEWS

In-form Bolton striker Daniel Sturridge is hoping to recover from an ankle knock that forced him off during Sunday’s win over Arsenal.

But Sam Ricketts, Sean Davis and Stuart Holden remain long-term absentees for the Trotters.

Fulham’s Bobby Zamora and Andrew Johnson will both be pushing for a starting place.

The pair came off the bench in the 1-1 draw with Wolves, with Johnson scoring Fulham’s equaliser.

Fulham

Doubtful: Duff (Achilles) Injured: Senderos (Achilles)

Bolton

Doubtful: Sturridge (ankle)

Injured: Davis & Holden (both knee), Ricketts (Achilles)

MATCH PREVIEW

Fulham go into the match with Bolton needing a draw to reach the 40-point mark but even that will not guarantee their safety.

We have got five games until the end of the season and we are looking to get points in each and every one of them Fulham manager Mark Hughes

Bolton are all but assured of top-flight football next season and after they crushed Arsenal’s title hopes last Sunday, manager Owen Coyle has urged them to finish the season with more similar performances.

A strong league finish would go some way to alleviating the huge disappointment of getting thrashed by Stoke in the semi-finals of the FA Cup, a competition the Trotters knocked Fulham out of earlier this year.

Bolton’s chances of earning a Europa League spot are slim although Fulham could yet end up playing in Europe next season courtesy of the Fair Play League. Not that Mark Hughes has been setting the best example – the Fulham manager was sent to the stands in Saturday’s draw with Wolves for “abuse of a water bottle”.

MATCH FACTS

Head-to-head

• The last three league meetings between the teams have ended in draws, the last two of which were 0-0.

• Bolton have not won a league match at Fulham since a 4-1 win in an old Division Two meeting in 1992. However, they did win at Craven Cottage in the FA Cup earlier this season.

Fulham

• Fulham are the only Premier League club yet to concede a goal from a penalty this season. The only one they gave away was missed by Manchester United’s Nani back in August.

• Damien Duff is one goal away from scoring 50 in the Premier League. He would become the third Irishman to reach this milestone after Robbie Keane and Niall Quinn.

• If Clint Dempsey scores, he will equal the club record for most Premier League goals by a single player. Brian McBride and Steed Malbranque lead the way with 32 each.

Bolton

• Bolton have lost eight of their last nine away league games. Their last Premier League win on the road was against Wolves in November.

• On-loan striker Sturridge has scored seven goals in nine league matches for Bolton.

• The Trotters have been in the top half of the table since the beginning of October.

LEADING GOALSCORERS

Fulham

Dempsey: 11 goals (10 league); Zamora: 6 goals (4 league)

Bolton

Elmander: 12 goals (10 league); K Davies: 9 goals (7 league)

MATCH OFFICIALS

Referee: Anthony Taylor

Assistant referees: John Flynn & Martin Yerby

Fourth official: Peter Walton

LAST LEAGUE MATCH LINE-UPS

Fulham (D1-1 v Wolves): Schwarzer, Baird, Hughes, Hangeland, Salcido, Davies, Sidwell, Murphy (Kakuta 69), Dempsey (Johnson 79), Gudjohnsen (Zamora 69), Dembele.

Subs Not Used: Stockdale, Kelly, Etuhu, Greening.

Bolton (W2-1 v Arsenal, h): Jaaskelainen, Steinsson, Cahill, Knight, Robinson, Lee, Elmander (Klasnic 90), Muamba (Mark Davies 71), Taylor, Sturridge (Cohen 85), Kevin Davies.

Subs Not Used: Bogdan, Petrov, Moreno, Wheater.