It may still be very early in the Championship season, but both Fulham and Bolton Wanderers will know how important victory could be in Wednesday night's match at Craven Cottage.

The pair lie 23rd and 22nd respectively after poor starts to the campaign, with Fulham only registering their first win of the season at another struggler, Birmingham City, on Saturday.

Kit Symons remains in temporary charge of the Cottagers and another win over the Trotters in two days' time could further strengthen his chances of earning the top job on a full-time basis.

Like Fulham, the visitors have just one win to their name this season and Dougie Freedman will need to start picking up points soon otherwise he might be in danger of losing his job.

The Trotters' last away game was also in West London and Freedman will have enjoyed a lot of what he saw in the narrow League Cup defeat at Premier League leaders Chelsea.

After leaving out some of those who played well at Stamford Bridge, changes could be on the cards against Fulham, with Jermaine Beckford in line for a recall to lead the attack.

When the two sides last met, both were in the Premier League and Fulham have won their last three games against Bolton without conceding a goal.

Recent form

Fulham: LDLLLW

Bolton: LLDWLL

Possible starting lineups

Fulham: Bettinelli; Hoogland, Bodurov, Burn, Amorebieta; Parker; Christensen, Hyndman; Ruiz; Rodallega, McCormack

Bolton: Lonergan; McNaughton, Mills, Dervite, Moxey; Garvan, Spearing, M Davies; Chung-Yong, Mason; Beckford

Sports Mole says: 2-1