A Robert Green error and poor defending helped Bolton win their relegation six pointer with West Ham 3-1.
Green error and poor defending gift Trotters victory
A Robert Green error and poor defending helped Bolton win their relegation six pointer with West Ham 3-1 to leapfrog the Hammers in the table and out of the drop zone.
After a goalless first period, the Trotters took the lead on 64 minutes when Lee Chung-Yong played a one-two with Ivan Klasnic before slotting home.
But the Hammers were level five minutes later when Alessandro Diamanti hit a great strike after Jack Collison had flicked on Guillermo Franco's cross.
But England keeper Green could not hold an easy catch from Gary Cahill's bouncing effort and Klasnic slotted home from close range on 77 minutes.
Cahill then added the crucial third with two minutes remaining when rising unchallenged at the far post to nod home Ricardo Gardner's corner.
The result lifts Gary Megson's side out of the drop zone on goal difference above Wolves, who lost at Manchester United, and leaves the Hammers second from bottom.
Gianfranco Zola's side also suffered a blow when injury-plagued midfielder Kieron Dyer had to be substituted midway through the first period with a recurrence of his hamstring problem.
Megson named an unchanged Bolton line-up, rewarding his players for their impressive showing against Manchester City, while Zola brought Dyer into the Hammers side for his first start in three months.
Bolton began the game in purposeful fashion, Kevin Davies seizing on an error by Collison in the first minute and rifling in an effort that was deflected just wide.
Dyer was fed neatly by Herita Ilunga after playing a one-two, but the former England international could only shoot tamely at Jussi Jaaskelainen from the edge of the box.
A minute later Scott Parker brought down Tamir Cohen but Matt Taylor's free-kick was collected by Green after bouncing off Danny Gabbidon.
Ascendancy
The hosts were in the ascendancy, but picked up two needless bookings in the 22nd minute when Davies bundled into Green after the goalkeeper had caught the ball.
Referee Andre Marriner showed the Wanderers captain the yellow card and a minute later took Klasnic's name after a melee ensued, with the West Ham players unhappy with Davies' challenge.
Bolton continued to press and Cahill was unlucky to misdirect a header wide from Paul Robinson's cross before the unfortunate Dyer was forced to come off after 21 minutes, with Junior Stanislas the man sent on to replace him.
West Ham were looking deflated but Bolton's confidence was growing, with Fabrice Muamba and Taylor both trying their luck on the half-hour mark.
Zat Knight then failed to guide his header on target from Lee's corner while Cohen could only hook a shot over the bar from the Korean's lay-off.
Lee was looking lively on the left and minutes later had cut inside his man and found Klasnic in space.
The in-form striker tried to pick his spot from just outside the area but his drive was rising too fast and West Ham survived again.
Half-time did not seem to interrupt Bolton's rhythm one bit and they were back on the attack again almost immediately after the restart.
Lee badly miscued a volley after the ball had dropped to him in the area in the 50th minute and Cohen did better shortly afterwards having connected with Knight's header, but the Israeli saw his shot deflected for a corner.
Creativity
It had been almost entirely one-way traffic, but West Ham finally lent some creativity to the game on the hour.
Diamanti lofted the ball to Franco, who almost worked his way into a one-on-one with Jaaskelainen before Knight made an excellent intervention.
Cahill then broke free at other end to send in a low shot that Green could only parry, but the Hammers hit back again on the counter-attack, Parker creating an angle and hitting a fierce effort that Jaaskelainen tipped over.
Bolton's earlier supremacy was finally rewarded in the 64th minute when Lee passed to Klasnic, who split the West Ham defence perfectly with the return ball which left an easy finish for Lee.
But the lead lasted just five minutes as Franco found Collison in the Bolton box, who teed up Diamanti to lash the ball past Jaaskelainen.
It looked as if the hosts might be left to rue their earlier profligacy in front of goal, but it was an error from Green that let them off the hook with 13 minutes to go.
The impressive Lee was involved again, pulling the ball back to the edge of the box for Cahill, whose bouncing effort seemed harmless enough.
Green looked set for an easy catch, but the England goalkeeper blundered and Klasnic snaffled up the chance.
Klasnic was then substituted and replaced by Chris Basham, who forced a diving save from Green with a long-range effort with two minutes remaining.
Fellow substitute Gardner took the resulting corner and found Cahill rising unchallenged at the far post to head home and wrap up the vital win.
| Bolton Wanderers |
Team Statistics |
West Ham United |
| 3 |
Goals |
1 |
| 0 |
1st Half Goals |
0 |
| 7 |
Shots on Target |
5 |
| 12 |
Shots off Target |
4 |
| 9 |
Blocked Shots |
4 |
| 8 |
Corners |
4 |
| 10 |
Fouls |
11 |
| 2 |
Offsides |
0 |
| 4 |
Yellow Cards |
1 |
| 0 |
Red Cards |
0 |
| 67.1 |
Passing Success |
75.5 |
| 16 |
Tackles |
13 |
| 93.8 |
Tackles Success |
76.9 |
| 42.7 |
Possession |
57.3 |
| 61.2 |
Territorial Advantage |
38.8 |
|
