Wanderers 0, FULHAM 0: IT was yet another frustrating afternoon at the Reebok Stadium, when despite their chances to gain a valuable three points it was ultimately just the one for Sam Allardyce's team writes Richard Mulligan

Wanderers' inability to close down games they have dominated has been a constant thorn in the club's side throughout the season.

To have the lion's share of possession and attempts on goal is not enough at the moment, but Wanderers were up against it even before the game began with the news that Michael Ricketts had not made the team sheet.

The Chinese whispers around the Reebok suggested Ricketts was at the Riverside Stadium on Saturday afternoon about to put pen to paper with Middlesbrough.

He did well to get up there so quickly as he had been in the foyer of the Reebok Stadium about an hour before kick off, and I can confirm he was hobbling with what the club say was a hamstring injury picked up in training.

How Sam Allardyce - whether he is about to sell the striker or not - could have done with Ricketts during the opening period.

Ricketts, if he had shown the form which has recently led to his four goals in five games, would have taken the Fulham defence to pieces.

Jean Tigana must have wondered what was going on with Wanderers' creative midfield players absolutely dominating all the play.

Per Frandsen is currently Bolton's most consistent performer. A couple of weeks back he broke down everything which Everton could throw at him, on Saturday Sean Davis and Sylvain Legwinski did not have a chance.

The Dane seemed to be everywhere during the opening exchanges, putting his foot in while also helping to instigate the slick passing movements which have been so important for Wanderers recently.

As early as the fourth minute he showed his guile and cunning when he spotted Maik Taylor well off his line and tried to lob the Fulham keeper from outside the area.

On this occasion the 32-year-old was a little off target, goal scoring has become less important for him in recent years and he has hit the back of the net just once this season.

But his creating of chances has never deteriorated and just a minute later he played a superb ball into the path of Henrik Pedersen. Having picked up the ball in midfield he neatly lobbed the ball over a crowded penalty area, and Pedersen seemed to have done the hard part by cutting in slightly from the right.

Pedersen had defender Martin Djetou snapping at his heels, but the Danish striker used his power well and looked about to give Wanderers the lead.

Yet he smashed his effort over the bar with the goal at his mercy after Taylor had rather unconvincingly come off his line. As early as then it looked like being 'one of those days' which have come to be a usual Saturday afternoon for Wanderers' fans.

The side had several periods in which they dominated possession and territory, and were particularly effective at keeping Fulham pegged back in their own half.

That was noticable when Wanderers managed to retain the ball following set-pieces in advanced positions. It is no longer a case of Youri Djorkaeff taking a corner or Simon Charlton knocking in a long-range free kick and the ball being cleared.

Now a number of Wanderers players seem to pack the box or wait just outside to pick up a half-cleared ball. That ability to sustain pressure will create goals at some stage this season - unfortunately not against Fulham.

Wanderers had numerous good opportunities, with a Pedersen volley forcing an excellent palm over from Taylor, Jay Jay Okocha had an effort cleared off the line in the second half, while Djorkaeff also brought a stop from the goalkeeper with a stunning shot on the turn.

Djorkaeff had his moments of inspired form. The attacking ace is a joy to watch on occasions, he is one of the few players in the Premiership - and especially at the wrong end of the table - who has the audacity and confidence in his own ability when in possession to sstop, have a look round at what is going on and react accordingly.

He knows no-one will try to tackle him, and even if they did it is unlikely they would dispossess this World Cup winner.

One Frenchman less impressive was Fulham's Steed Malbranque who missed two absolute sitters in the second half, very much against the run of play.

So goalless it was but a final word on defender Ivan Campo. In the past his major contribution in some games has been slips and loss of the ball in rather precarious positions.

But against Fulham there was just one fall, and aside from that, he and Gudni Bergsson did not give Louis Saha and Facundo Sava a sniff.

The Spaniard's distribution of passes, both long and short, is improving all the time and he now looks a class act with the ball at his feet. Campo and Bergsson have now kept two clean sheets in two games together, having drawn 0-0 at Everton.