Fulham 2 Bolton Wanderers 1: Fulham's fragile recovery of recent weeks had done nothing to suggest they were capable of a performance of such surging confidence as this.

But this win, secured by a double from Brian McBride amid a blizzard of yellow cards, was vital for them.

The warm applause before the game for Fulham old boy George Best was replicated at the end for a stirring performance, particularly in the first half.

Bolton had seven players booked - Nolan, Speed, Davies, Diouf, O'Brien, Ben Haim and Jay-Jay Okocha. Then, as the players left the pitch, El-Hadji Diouf was shown the red card for his second show of dissent. Bolton face an automatic £25,000 Premiership fine.

Allardyce said afterwards: "Players need to control their emotions. Diouf showed his immaturity at the end. We could pay a heavy price if these yellow cards spill over into suspensions in January.

The first goal, in only the fourth minute, came from Tomasz Radzinski's cross from the left. McBride burst in front of Radhi Jaidi to beat Jussi Jaaskelainen from close range.

The second goal came 14 minutes later. Mark Crossley's powerful goal-kick soared high and deep into enemy territory. McBride and Jaidi both jumped for the plummeting ball and both missed. But McBride was the quicker to recover and once the ball had bounced he volleyed it past Jaaskelainen. Bolton pulled one back at the start of injury time when Fulham substitute Sylvain Legwinski, under pressure from Kevin Nolan, steered the ball into his own net.  Guardian Service