Fulham midfielder Clint Dempsey broke Fulham’s Premier League goal-scoring record by netting twice in a 3-0 victory over Bolton on Wednesday.
The American midfielder hooked a half-cleared corner into the net after 15 minutes and tapped in Eidur Gudjohnsen’s flick-on three minutes into the second half to take his tally since joining Fulham in 2007 to 33 Premiership goals.
Dempsey surpasses fellow American Brian McBride and French midfielder Steed Malbranque, who both scored 32 Premiership league goals before leaving Fulham.
Dempsey’s double took him to 12 league goals this season alone. Brede Hangeland the defender, who like Dempsey was born in Texas playing his international football for Norway, completed Fulham’s victory with a 65th-minute header.
Fulham soared into the top half of the Premier League standings to ninth, a place and four points behind Bolton with four matches remaining.
The victory extended Fulham’s unbeaten run at Craven Cottage to seven matches, during which they have picked up 19 points out of a possible 21 to ensure the London club’s Premier League survival.