COYLE: REF CLATTENBURG HAS IT IN FOR DAVIES

BOLTON 0 FULHAM 0

Owen Coyle believes his no-nonsense striker Kevin Davies is a marked man.

But Bolton skipper ­Davies feels there is one particular Mark who has it in for him.

Referee Mark Clattenburg ruled out Davies’ last-minute goal, a header from a Chung-Yong Lee free-kick, for a supposed push on defender Brede Hangeland.

TV replays supported Coyle’s sense of injustice and the Bolton manager’s post-match words with Clattenburg did little to improve his mood.

And Davies said: “It was a clear goal for me. The referee said I put two hands in his back, but, having watched it again, I can’t see it.

“I think Hangeland got under the ball and I just outjumped him .

“When I saw who was the ­referee, I didn’t expect to get anything off him. We could quite easily have had a penalty in the first half.

“Over the years, I have never got much from him. There was a ­penalty at Old ­Trafford last season and he did nothing – but I got a booking.

“I’ve had numerous bookings over the years. I don’t know, I have always felt there is something ­personal there.

“Every time he referees us, I don’t expect to get anything. At least I didn’t get a booking. That was the only good thing about it .”

Coyle was more diplomatic about the decision although he thinks referees give ­Davies a hard time.

The Bolton boss said: “Kevin’s such an honest player and I think sometimes his reputation goes against him .”

At least Clattenburg’s error gave the game a talking point ­because, apart from a chronic miss from ­Johan Elmander ­moments earlier, there was little else.

Bolton hit the bar in the first half as Mark Schwarzer saved well from Mark Davies, but ­Fulham created nothing .

The Cottagers were badly hit by injuries and Kagisho Dikgacoi added to the list when he limped off in the second half with an ­ankle problem.

But the point should ­banish ­relegation fears, ­allowing boss Roy Hodgson to ­focus on progress in the Europa League and FA Cup.

Fulham host Notts County in the FA Cup next Sunday and ­Hodgson said: “The FA Cup’s a big ­competition and we want to go as far as we can go.

“There’s a big concern after ­losing a player today and having a game on Tuesday night. I don’t know what kind of team I can ­select on ­Sunday.

“But one thing’s for sure, there will be no taking the opposition for granted as far as we’re ­concerned in that competition. ”

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