West Ham's four-month unbeaten away run finally came to an end at the Reebok Stadium this afternoon.
Two first half goals within the space of 60 seconds were enough to condemn the Hammers to their first defeat on the road since the 2-0 reversal at Old Trafford on October 30th.An 11th minute Matt Taylor free kick swiftly followed by a Kevin Davies strike a minute later was enough to earn all three points for the home side despite a spirited comeback from the Hammers, who scored a 66th minute consolation goal through Scott Parker and did more than enough to deserve a point from a keenly-contested battle.
Gianfranco Zola made two changes to the side beaten 1-0 by Manchester United last weekend, with Valon Behrami returning to replace Luis Boa Morte and Jon Spector deputising for the suspended Lucas Neill.
Although the Hammers started well enough - David Di Michele and Herita Ilunga both exposing gaps in the Bolton rearguard early on - it was the Trotters who took the lead on 11 minutes after Jack Collison conceded an unnecessary foul on the edge of the box.
Matt Taylor - who scored a peach in Bolton's 3-1 win at the Boleyn earlier in the season - sent the resulting free kick curling away from Rob Green into the goalkeeper's left hand top corner. Whilst the execution should be applauded Green will perhaps feel that he could have been better positioned, standing as he was towards the right side of his goal.
With the Hammers still reeling from that blow Kevin Davies, so long the scourge of various United defences found space between the retreating Jon Spector and Matthew Upson to pounce on a Johan Elmander centre to make it 2-0 to the Wanderers, much to the delight of the strangely-muted home crowd.
Two down within 12 minutes and it didn't seem as if things could get much worse - but they did when James Collins went down clutching his leg after attempting to tackle Elmander just two minutes after Davies' goal.
The Welsh centre half signalled immediately to the bench that his game was over, and three minutes later he left the field on a stretcher with what looked like a hamstring injury - although it is of course just six months since he returned from a career-threatening knee injury. James Tomkins stepped in to make only his thirs appearance of the season.
Hit by a treble sucker-punch, the Hammers were right up against it from thereon in and could have perhaps been forgiven had they conceded further - but on reflection Zola's side will sfeel hard done by to come away with nothing at all against a Bolton side that have thrown a two-goal home advantage away three times already this season.
The first of West Ham's many subsequent chances fell to Mark Noble ten minutes ahead of the break when the youngster was sent racing through on Jussi Jaaskelainen's goal. Unfortunately the midfielder opted to look inside when the better option would have been to shoot as he bore down on goal, and the chance came to nothing.
Undettered however Noble was involved again four minutes later when his pinpoint through ball gave David Di Michele the opportunity to reduce the deficit, but once again the chance was wasted as the 33-year-old striker spooned his effort horribly wide of the target.
The Italian went close again before the half time whistle blew - as did strike partner Carlton Cole, who passed a late fitness test to make the game - but the Trotters held on to maintain a largely undeserved two goal advantage at the break.
The second half followed a similar pattern to the first with Bolton looking stronger early on before the Hammers came to dominate proceedings. Rob Green amended for his earlier mishap by making a point blank save from goalscorer Taylor five minutes into the second half but United were to practically lay siege to the home goal for the rest of the game.
Hopes of a revival were stirred on 66 minutes when Scott Parker grabbed his second goal for the club, stealing in late to prod home a dangerous looking Spector cross. The Hammers, spurred on by the goal pushed on in search of the equaliser and thought they had in on 74 minutes when David Di Michele pounced on a loose ball in the Bolton box and rounded keeper Jaaskelainen - only to see Gary Cahill prevent the ball from crossing the line with an outstretched boot.
Still the Irons pushed on, and Carlton Cole had defenders scrambling to clear when Jaaskelainen failed to deal with a header from the England striker eight minutes from time. Further (half) chances came and went before referee Steve Tanner blew for time, much to the relief of the watching Bolton supporters.
So once again it was a spirited performance from Zola's side, but one that extends their run without a win to four games - in sharp contrast to the unbeaten eight-match run that immediately preceeded it. The defeat moved Bolton to within three points of West Ham, who despite the defeat, remain in eighth spot in tonight's Premier League table.
Bolton Wanderers 2 West Ham United 1: Match Stats
West Ham United: Green, Ilunga, Spector (Sears 85), Upson, Collins (Tomkins 16), Parker, Noble, Collison (Savio 62), Behrami, Di Michele, Cole.
Subs not used: Lastuvka, Lopez, Kovac, Tristan.
Goals: Parker (66).
Efforts on goal: 14 (29, 35, 39, 42, 43; 60, 66*, 72, 74, 81, 82, 82, 85, 90).
Booked: Upson (23), Noble (55).
Bolton Wanderers: Jaaskelainen, Steinsson, Cahill, Puygrenier (O'Brien 73), Gardner, Samuel, McCann, M.Davies, Taylor, K.Davies, Elmander (Muamba 76).
Subs not used: Al Habsi, Shittu, Smolarek, Makukula, Basham.
Goals: Taylor (10), Davies (11).
Efforts on goal: 9 (2, 10*, 11*, 13, 27; 46, 50, 57, 80).
Booked: None.
Referee: Steve Tanner.
Attendance: 21,245.
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