Fulham are 45 minutes away from leapfrogging Bolton Wanderers in the Championship drop zone after taking in a 2-0 lead at half time at Craven Cottage.

The struggling Cottagers had the lead early when Hugo Rodallega squeezed his shot underneath Trotters keeper Andy Lonergan on nine minutes.

The warning signs were there for Bolton when Ross McCormack's neat finish was chalked off for offside prior to Rodgallega's opener.

Liam Feeney expertly picked out Darren Pratley with a cross-field pass, and the latter went close when his effort skimmed the crossbar for Bolton before the half-hour mark.

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Bryan Ruiz came close to extending the advantage for Kit Symons's charges, but the Costa Rican's free kick whisked past the post shortly before the interval.

Fulham doubled the lead moments before the break when Fernando Amorebieta headed home a free kick to put the home side firmly in the driving seat.