On the evidence of these dreadful 90 minutes, perhaps it would have been better if the players had gone ahead with their strike.

At least that would have saved everyone from having to endure a match as disappointing as this again.

This really was a no score bore and to be honest neither side deserved nil.

Bolton tried, but could not achieve anything, while Fulham seemed content with a point from the outset.

A draw maintains Fulham's revival and means they have collected 10 points from their last four games.

The result is more disappointing for Bolton and they have managed just two points and two goals from their last five Premiership home matches.

Their two goals against Everton remain all they have scored in that period and while most people fast after Christmas, Bolton have put the Reebok crowd on a strict no goals diet before the festivities have started.

It had all been so different before this first meeting of the sides in the top flight since February 1964.

Lyndon Johnson was still finding his way around the White House back then and both clubs have changed a great deal since.

After years of scraping to get by, big-spending Fulham can now afford to shop at Harrods, while Bolton are enjoying their best season for decades.

Sam Allardyce's side came into the match riding high in eighth place in the

Premiership and well on target to achieve his goal of staying up.

Bolton have surprised quite a few pundits by outperforming Fulham after the

Cottagers romped to the First Division title last season and Wanderers won promotion via the play-offs.

Bolton began determined to maintain that superiority and they had the better of what opening skirmishes there were Michael Ricketts went close in the opening seconds before Bolton goalkeeper Jussi Jaaskelainen saved a shot from Sylvain Legwinski.

Per Frandsen then drove wide from a neat lay-off by Ricketts and Legwinski shot into the side netting from a narrow angle on the right.

Despite these tame efforts, the half did not really come to life until 10 minutes before the interval.

Fulham's Rufus Brevett gave the ball away to Kevin Nolan around 25 yards out and the midfielder hit a drive, which was expertly touched away for a corner by Edwin van der Sar.

Bolton turned up the heat and after a Frandsen free-kick and follow up had been blocked by Fulham, van der Sar saved a drilled Nolan effort.

It was all Bolton now and Ricketts saw a clipped effort drift just wide of van der Sar's right-hand post.

The half-time whistle came just at the wrong time for Bolton and the second half began as badly as the first had.

Fulham's Barry Hayles shot wide and headed over from a Louis Saha cross, but in the main it was awful stuff.

Fulham coach Jean Tigana tried to pep up his side and midway through the half he brought on Luis Boa Morte, who scored both goals in this fixture last season, and Lee Clark.

However there was no improvement and Sean Davis just about summed the match up when he blasted the ball high and wide from a decent chance 20 yards out.