West Ham Utd 1 Bolton Wanderers 2

  • by Staff Writer
  • Saturday, 6th March 2010

West Ham United are back in the mire after producing a substandard performance against Bolton's spoilers at the Boleyn Ground this afternoon.

Wanderers boss Owen Coyle - who saw his side produce their first away win since he succeeded the unpopular Gary Megson - admitted in midweek that his main priority was not to lose today's game. But even he would have been surprised at West Ham's generosity as they gifted the visitors a two-goal lead inside the opening quarter-of-an-hour.

Bolton, whose physical presence has proved the undoing of many a United side over the years set their stall out within the opening three minutes after Kevin Davies went through Julien Faubert, leaving the Frenchman writhing in agony on the ground.

Having let that particular challenge go unpunished the quite frankly awful Lee Probert effectively gave the Trotters the green light to continue piling up the fouls - which they did, totting up no less than 24 during the game - and it took him 71 minutes before Tamir Cohen became the first and only player to see red after his umpteenth foul.

But for all Bolton's anti-football it was still they who looked the better team on the day. Alessandro Diamanti's half-hearted challenge in midfield left the Irons short at the back and a sweeping cross found the head of an unmarked Davies, who nodded the visitors into a 10th minute lead.

Still reeling from the shock of going a goal behind so early, the Irons found themselves even further adrift six minutes later when the on-loan Jack Wilshire was criminally allowed acres of space inside the six-yard box to convert a Davies centre. Chiefly at fault this time was James Tomkins, whose attempt to shepherd the ball to safety on the byeline was thwarted by Davies' outstretched boot which hooked the ball into the danger zone.

West Ham's best chance of narrowing the deficit ahead of the break came in the first half's final minute when Zat Knight was forced to clear off the line - although Alessandro Diamanti also went close with a couple of free kicks on the perimeter of the 18-yard box.

The Hammers finally managed to pull one back with just two minutes of normal time remaining when Diamanti, never afraid to have a pop at goal finally found the back of the net with a curling drive from just inside the penalty box.

That goal signalled a frantic final few seconds, including five added on minutes during which both sides rattled the crossbar; Davies - again - grazing the woodwork before substitute Junior Stanislas nearly broke the crossbar in two with a thunderous drive that almost earned the home side a point which, in truth, they barely deserved.

Bolton, who had been reduced to ten men by the dismissal of Cohen 19 minutes from time were however determined to preserve their lead and the three points take them above West Ham, who now face trips to Chelsea and Arsenal in their next two fixtures.

The next home game against Wolves - plus the remaining home fixtures against Sunderland, Wigan and Manchester City - now take on added importance are Zola's men to avoid the drop.

With trips to Everton and Liverpool also yet to come chances of away points look minimal; either way it's going to be a very nervous end to the season.

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