By Arindam Rej BBC Sport

Clint Dempsey's first-half double helped Fulham to a rare away success that ended relegation-threatened Bolton's three-game winning run.

Fulham had the better of the first period and Dempsey opened the scoring with a curling, 30-yard free-kick.

The American added his second just before half-time as he headed in Damien Duff's cross from the right.

Fulham sealed the win when John Arne Riise's cross was steered in from eight yards by Mahamadou Diarra.

Analysis

Image of Guy Mowbray Guy Mowbray BBC Match of the Day commentator

"A big blow to Bolton. Their run is over and it's been blown away by Fulham, who played in a relaxed manner. Clint Dempsey is scoring goals for fun."

Bolton needed the points in their bid to avoid relegation and although mid-table Fulham had far less at stake, that was not reflected in the way the match unfolded.

Fulham made a mockery of their dismal away record - they had scored only eight goals on their travels before this - while Bolton did not look like a team that was buoyant after three successive wins against relegation rivals.

Their fine form had seen Bolton manager Owen Coyle win the manager of the month award earlier in the week but the infamous curse that follows that prize duly struck.

Coyle issues rallying call to Bolton

Duff and Dempsey were key figures for Fulham, and the latter's goals took him to 15 for the season in the Premier League.

In the process he set a new club record, having previously shared the club's record tally of 13 for a Premier League season with Louis Saha.

Although Fulham had more possession in the early stages, Bolton made some promising breaks and their best early chance fell to the impressive Ryo Miyaichi, who shot over from 12 yards from Martin Petrov's cross.

Did you know?

Bolton have failed to score in their last five meetings with Fulham, who won for only the sixth time in their last 53 away league games.

Duff twice tried his luck from range for Fulham but his first shot flew wide and, when the second was charged down, Dempsey spun and shot in from 10 yards, but the goal was rightly judged off-side.

Dempsey - playing up front rather than in a wider position because of Pavel Pogrebnyak's injury - quickly rectified that disappointment with a brilliant free-kick.

It was swerving and struck with pace and, once they were in front, Fulham started playing with even more confidence and freedom.

Bolton were being cut apart by Duff and Dempsey and, after the Irishman crossed for his team-mate to head in the second, the home team left the field to boos at the interval.

Coyle responded by bringing on Chris Eagles and Kevin Davies and taking a more direct approach, but as the hosts pushed forward it gave Fulham the chance to counter-attack and Adam Bogdan twice made excellent saves to deny Duff, while Dempsey also fired wide.

Clint Dempsey revels in Fulham goal record

But Fulham were not to be denied a third and Diarra's first goal for the club, as he applied the finishing touch to a counter-attack, completed a miserable afternoon for Bolton.

Bolton manager Owen Coyle: "We certainly didn't envisage that performance. Goals change games and Dempsey has hit a 35-yard free-kick then we gave away a soft goal.

"We have not done ourselves justice today and we'll have to take our medicine and take the criticism. It is certainly disappointing but we have to pick ourselves up.

"The level of performance that we've had recently wasn't there today. We have to bring that back."

Fulham manager Martin Jol: "It could have been four or five. I felt that we did really well. I am satisfied that we had the inspiration and motivation.

"We have had too many draws away, not scoring enough goals - that was our only problem - but Clint scored two and Diarra did so that's satisfying.

"Clint wants to be on the end of things and that's what he did with his second goal. He is a complete footballer."

Lineup, Bookings (1) & Substitutions (6)

Bolton Wanderers

  • 01 Bogdan
  • 03 Alonso
  • 18 Ricketts Booked
  • 31 Wheater
  • 32 Ream
  • 10 Petrov
  • 16 M Davies
  • 19 Reo-Coker
  • 21 Pratley (K Davies - 46' )
  • 24 Ngog (Klasnic - 60' )
  • 30 Miyaichi (Eagles - 46' )

Substitutes

  • 22 Jaaskelainen
  • 02 Steinsson
  • 12 Knight
  • 07 Eagles
  • 14 K Davies
  • 17 Klasnic
  • 29 Sordell

Fulham

  • 01 Schwarzer
  • 02 Kelly
  • 03 JA Riise
  • 05 Hangeland
  • 18 Hughes
  • 16 Duff (Frei - 83' )
  • 19 Diarra
  • 23 Dempsey
  • 31 Kacaniklic (Trotta - 88' )
  • 11 Ruiz (Etuhu - 73' )
  • 30 Dembele

Substitutes

  • 12 Stockdale
  • 06 Baird
  • 14 Senderos
  • 20 Etuhu
  • 21 Frei
  • 29 Davies
  • 42 Trotta
Ref: Dean
Att: 21,939

Match Stats

Shots

13 11

On target

7 8

Corners

5 3

Fouls

11 9

Live Text Commentary

90:00 +3:22 Full time

Full Time The referee brings the game to a close.

90:00 +2:38 Booking

Booking Booking for Samuel Ricketts for unsporting behaviour.

90:00 +2:20

David Wheater has an effort at goal from 20 yards. Blocked by Aaron Hughes. Clint Dempsey fouled by Samuel Ricketts, the ref awards a free kick.

90:00 +1:35

Corner taken by Martin Petrov from the left by-line played to the near post.

90:00 +1:08

Marcello Trotta takes a shot. Comfortable save by Adam Bogdan. Martin Petrov has an effort at goal from 12 yards. Stephen Kelly gets a block in.

90:00 +0:51

Effort on goal by Dickson Etuhu from 20 yards. Blocked by Nigel Reo-Coker.

88:49

Marcos Alonso concedes a free kick for a foul on Stephen Kelly. Mahamadou Diarra restarts play with the free kick.

87:26

Adam Bogdan takes the direct free kick.

87:26 Substitution

Substitution Marcello Trotta comes on in place of Alex Kacaniklic.

87:26

Unfair challenge on Kevin Davies by Moussa Dembele results in a free kick.

86:33

Martin Petrov delivers the ball, blocked by Stephen Kelly.

82:40 Substitution

Substitution Damien Duff leaves the field to be replaced by Kerim Frei.

82:09

Effort on goal by Chris Eagles from inside the area goes harmlessly over the bar.

79:49

John Arne Riise provided the assist for the goal.

79:49 Goal scored

Goal - Mahamadou Diarra - Bolton 0 - 3 Fulham Mahamadou Diarra finds the back of the net with a goal from close range to the bottom right corner of the goal. Bolton 0-3 Fulham.

79:05

Free kick awarded for a foul by Kevin Davies on Stephen Kelly. Direct free kick taken by Aaron Hughes. Foul by Marcos Alonso on Damien Duff, free kick awarded. Mahamadou Diarra restarts play with the free kick.

76:05

Stephen Kelly concedes a free kick for a foul on Kevin Davies. Chris Eagles delivers the ball from the free kick right-footed from left wing, save by Mark Schwarzer.

74:52

Chris Eagles takes a shot. Blocked by Aaron Hughes.

72:11 Substitution

Substitution Dickson Etuhu comes on in place of Bryan Ruiz.

70:07

Samuel Ricketts delivers the ball, save by Mark Schwarzer.

68:30

Aaron Hughes concedes a free kick for a foul on Kevin Davies. Free kick crossed left-footed by Martin Petrov, clearance made by Brede Hangeland. A cross is delivered by Chris Eagles, Aaron Hughes makes a clearance.

65:44

Inswinging corner taken from the right by-line by Damien Duff, Aaron Hughes takes a shot. Clearance by Chris Eagles.

65:23

Damien Duff crosses the ball, blocked by Marcos Alonso.

61:41

The referee blows for offside against Kevin Davies. Aaron Hughes takes the free kick.

61:05

Damien Duff takes a shot. Adam Bogdan makes a save.

59:27

Kevin Davies gives away a free kick for an unfair challenge on Bryan Ruiz. Direct free kick taken by Mahamadou Diarra.

59:27 Substitution

Substitution Ivan Klasnic comes on in place of David Ngog.

59:27

Effort from deep inside the area by Clint Dempsey misses to the left of the goal.

57:21

Damien Duff takes a shot. Adam Bogdan makes a save.

56:23

Header by David Ngog from deep inside the penalty area misses to the left of the target.

55:59

Chris Eagles crosses the ball, Aaron Hughes makes a clearance.

54:21

Marcos Alonso crosses the ball, blocked by Damien Duff. The referee penalises Damien Duff for handball. Chris Eagles crosses the ball in from the free kick.

53:09

Martin Petrov has shot on goal from just outside the area which goes wide of the right-hand upright.

51:58

Mark Davies challenges Bryan Ruiz unfairly and gives away a free kick. Free kick taken by Mahamadou Diarra.

50:42

Marcos Alonso fouled by Damien Duff, the ref awards a free kick. Direct free kick taken by Marcos Alonso. The referee blows for offside against Kevin Davies. Free kick taken by Mark Schwarzer.

48:05

Chris Eagles takes the outswinging corner, Shot from 20 yards from Chris Eagles. Moussa Dembele gets a block in.

45:47

Mahamadou Diarra gives away a free kick for an unfair challenge on Marcos Alonso. Chris Eagles has a direct shot on goal from the free kick.

45:01

The game restarts for the second half.

45:01 Substitution

Substitution Chris Eagles comes on in place of Ryo Miyaichi.

45:01 Substitution

Substitution Kevin Davies is brought on as a substitute for Darren Pratley.

45:00 +1:24 Half time

Half Time The ref blows to end the first period.

44:52

The assist for the goal came from Damien Duff.

44:52 Goal scored

Goal - Clint Dempsey - Bolton 0 - 2 Fulham Clint Dempsey finds the net with a headed goal from inside the six-yard box. Bolton 0-2 Fulham.

44:49

The ball is sent over by Damien Duff,

43:03

The ball is delivered by Alex Kacaniklic. Bryan Ruiz decides to take the corner short.

42:05

Martin Petrov has an effort at goal from 18 yards. Blocked by Brede Hangeland. Clint Dempsey is flagged offside by the assistant referee. Adam Bogdan takes the indirect free kick.

39:54

Nigel Reo-Coker takes a shot. Save by Mark Schwarzer.

36:56

David Ngog has an effort at goal from 25 yards. Save made by Mark Schwarzer.

34:45

The referee blows for offside against Damien Duff. Martin Petrov takes the indirect free kick.

33:55

Moussa Dembele gives away a free kick for an unfair challenge on Nigel Reo-Coker. Nigel Reo-Coker takes the direct free kick.

33:11

Effort from inside the area by Clint Dempsey misses to the left of the goal.

31:10

David Ngog fouled by Moussa Dembele, the ref awards a free kick. Samuel Ricketts restarts play with the free kick.

29:17

Mahamadou Diarra provided the assist for the goal.

29:17 Goal scored

Goal - Clint Dempsey - Bolton 0 - 1 Fulham Free kick scored by Clint Dempsey from long distance to the top right corner of the goal. Bolton 0-1 Fulham.

28:24

David Ngog concedes a free kick for a foul on Mahamadou Diarra.

28:04

David Ngog gives away a free kick for an unfair challenge on Aaron Hughes. Mahamadou Diarra takes the free kick.

24:32

Martin Petrov takes a outswinging corner from the left by-line to the near post, Marcos Alonso produces a left-footed shot from close in which goes wide of the left-hand upright.

23:05

Clint Dempsey is flagged offside by the assistant referee. Indirect free kick taken by Adam Bogdan.

21:47

John Arne Riise gives away a free kick for an unfair challenge on Ryo Miyaichi. Free kick crossed left-footed by Martin Petrov from right wing, clearance made by Mahamadou Diarra.

18:18

Damien Duff has an effort at goal from just outside the box which goes wide of the right-hand upright.

16:23

Unfair challenge on David Ngog by Brede Hangeland results in a free kick. Direct free kick taken by Nigel Reo-Coker.

14:44

Damien Duff handles the ball and concedes a free kick. Direct free kick taken by Adam Bogdan.

13:12

Shot by Ryo Miyaichi from deep inside the penalty area misses to the right of the goal.

12:16

Outswinging corner taken left-footed by Bryan Ruiz played to the near post.

10:27

Clint Dempsey fouled by David Wheater, the ref awards a free kick. Direct free kick taken by Mahamadou Diarra.

8:18

Outswinging corner taken by Martin Petrov from the left by-line, free kick awarded for an unfair challenge on Brede Hangeland by David Wheater. Direct free kick taken by Mark Schwarzer.

2:57

Moussa Dembele fouled by Mark Davies, the ref awards a free kick. Mahamadou Diarra restarts play with the free kick.

1:39

Corner taken by Martin Petrov played to the near post, Mahamadou Diarra manages to make a clearance.

0:00

The referee starts the match.

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