Five goals, three penalties and the first goal of the new season were the highlights from Loftus Road as Fulham eased to victory.

They responded to Michael Ricketts' early opener with goals from strikers Louis Saha, Steve Marlet and a brace from Sylvain Legwinski.

Bolton for their part looked a pale shadow of the team that had beaten Leicester 5-0 at this stage last season.

But with only three minutes on the clock, it was the visitors who opened the scoring with their first attack of the match.

Youri Djorkaeff danced into the Fulham area and was clumsily challenged by Cottagers centre-back Alain Goma.

Referee Alan Wiley immediately pointed to the spot and an ice cool Michael Ricketts - after a stop-start run-up - sent Edwin van der Sar the wrong way.

Despite the setback, Fulham hit back straight away, and Steve Marlet should have done better with a point-blank header.

But before Bolton could draw breath, Louis Saha had levelled from the penalty spot after another untidy challenge, this time by Bolton captain Gudni Bergsson.

Marlet, who hit the net just nine times after last season's �11.5m move from Lyon, missed another fine chance after 31 minutes as Fulham began to dominate.

And Legwinski showed his compatriot how it should be done three minutes later in a replica move.

The midfielder skilfully cut inside from the right wing before hitting a fierce left-foot shot beyond the helpless Jussi Jaaskelainen.

It got even better for Fulham seven minutes before the break when Luis Boa Morte was sent sprawling by full-back Bernard Mendy on the edge of the penalty area.

This time, Marlet did find the net, confidently sweeping the ball to Jaaskelainen's left.

Bolton boss Sam Allardyce's response at half-time was to take off summer signings Mendy and the ineffective Jay Jay Okocha.