Hammers capitulate after Green howler.
Premier League results/standings
Bolton Wanderers opened the scoring through Lee Chung Yong only to be pegged back by West Ham United's Alessandro Diamanti. Further strikes from Ivan Klasnic and Gary Cahill put the nail in the Hammers coffin though.
Bolton Wanderers played host to West Ham United inside the Reebok stadium with both sides sitting in the bottom three of the Premier League table and with both in a run of poor form. Bolton were on a dismal run having picked up just two points out of a possible 18. West Ham meanwhile were coming off back-to-back defeats to Manchester United and Birmingham City last time out.
The game started quite nervously for the visitors and West Ham could have been behind within the first 10 minutes when young English defender James Tomkins mis-judged a simple clearance to allow Kevin Davies to get in behind. The striker's squared ball towards Ivan Klasnic was cut out however and the Hammers were let off.
Gianfranco Zola had his team playing neat and tidily with the ball on the floor but it was the more direct Wanderers that looked the more dangerous in the early stages.
Paul Robinson gave the home side another decent chance when his cross from the left was met by an advanced Gary Cahill, but the defender could not get his header on target and another half-chance went begging.
Soon later the visitors were dealt a blow when the injury-plagued Kieron Dyer went down in some discomfort and had to be brought off with Junior Stanislas his replacement.
It was all one-way traffic in Bolton's favor as the half wore on, the intensity of the home side overpowering Zola's men who continued to persevere with their low-tempo game.
Bolton continued to pile forward and Fabrice Muamba could have broke the deadlock when his powerful shot was deflected and bounced just wide with Robert Green scrambling.
But for all the Trotters' industry, there was a lack of quality and the Hammers almost caught them with a sucker punch right on the stroke of half-time when substitute forward Stanislas got beyond Cahill in a sprint towards goal but was adjudged to have fouled the Bolton captain.
The boos rang out around the Reebok as the referee blew for half time. Gary Megson needed more quality from his troops whilst Zola had to change things to get into the game.
The second half saw things continue similarly to the first, West Ham content to sit back with Bolton coming forward at will.
Zat Knight had a great chance to find the opening goal when he met a corner and sent it invitingly across the face of goal but none of his teammates could connect.
Moments later the big defender was involved down the other end when his excellent tackle shackled Guillermo Franco and prevented the Mexico striker from pulling the trigger with Green exposed.
As the second half wore on the Hammers began to play with a purpose that was missing in the first period.
After a Davies shot was blocked, Scott Parker set off on an excellent 40-yard run, evaded a sliding tackle by Cahill, and then sent a stinging effort towards the top left corner of goal. Jussi Jaaskelainen had to be at his best to tip it just over.
However, the Trotters had their first real moment of quality during the game after the Hammers failed to clear their lines. An excellent move saw Lee Chung-Yong feed Klasnic the ball whilst he continued a run into the box. An excellent cutting pass from Klasnic found the Korean again, this time behind the West Ham back-line and the midfielder buried it beyond Green. 1-0.
However, the home side were only in the lead for a few minutes before West Ham produced a goal of equal quality. Some neat footwork by Franco engineered himself some space to feed Jack Collison in Bolton's box. The Welsh youngster layed the ball off to an on-rushing Alessandro Diamanti, who left the keeper no chance with the equalizer.
It was all kicking off now and within 10 minutes of the equalizer, Bolton were back in front again. This time a deflected ball from a Cahill shot bounced kindly for Green. However, as the glovesman went to make a routine collection, he committed a howler and spilled the ball to Klasnic who snatched the ball and made no mistake from five yards out to put his side back in the lead again.
There was to be no second comeback from the Hammers as Cahill put the nail in the coffin with a few minutes to go. A corner from Ricardo Gardner was defended poorly and the captain rose unmarked to put the ball past Green for the third time.
West Ham tried to respond but Bolton comfortably saw the clock wind down to pick up an important three points. Zola's Hammers meanwhile are now firmly in the relegation battle and will look to regroup from their third defeat in a row.
Michael Landon, Goal.com
Get all the latest EPL news in the Goal.com Forums.
Bolton Wanderers opened the scoring through Lee Chung Yong only to be pegged back by West Ham United's Alessandro Diamanti. Further strikes from Ivan Klasnic and Gary Cahill put the nail in the Hammers coffin though.
Bolton Wanderers played host to West Ham United inside the Reebok stadium with both sides sitting in the bottom three of the Premier League table and with both in a run of poor form. Bolton were on a dismal run having picked up just two points out of a possible 18. West Ham meanwhile were coming off back-to-back defeats to Manchester United and Birmingham City last time out.
The game started quite nervously for the visitors and West Ham could have been behind within the first 10 minutes when young English defender James Tomkins mis-judged a simple clearance to allow Kevin Davies to get in behind. The striker's squared ball towards Ivan Klasnic was cut out however and the Hammers were let off.
Gianfranco Zola had his team playing neat and tidily with the ball on the floor but it was the more direct Wanderers that looked the more dangerous in the early stages.
Paul Robinson gave the home side another decent chance when his cross from the left was met by an advanced Gary Cahill, but the defender could not get his header on target and another half-chance went begging.
Soon later the visitors were dealt a blow when the injury-plagued Kieron Dyer went down in some discomfort and had to be brought off with Junior Stanislas his replacement.
It was all one-way traffic in Bolton's favor as the half wore on, the intensity of the home side overpowering Zola's men who continued to persevere with their low-tempo game.
Bolton continued to pile forward and Fabrice Muamba could have broke the deadlock when his powerful shot was deflected and bounced just wide with Robert Green scrambling.
But for all the Trotters' industry, there was a lack of quality and the Hammers almost caught them with a sucker punch right on the stroke of half-time when substitute forward Stanislas got beyond Cahill in a sprint towards goal but was adjudged to have fouled the Bolton captain.
The boos rang out around the Reebok as the referee blew for half time. Gary Megson needed more quality from his troops whilst Zola had to change things to get into the game.
The second half saw things continue similarly to the first, West Ham content to sit back with Bolton coming forward at will.
Zat Knight had a great chance to find the opening goal when he met a corner and sent it invitingly across the face of goal but none of his teammates could connect.
Moments later the big defender was involved down the other end when his excellent tackle shackled Guillermo Franco and prevented the Mexico striker from pulling the trigger with Green exposed.
As the second half wore on the Hammers began to play with a purpose that was missing in the first period.
After a Davies shot was blocked, Scott Parker set off on an excellent 40-yard run, evaded a sliding tackle by Cahill, and then sent a stinging effort towards the top left corner of goal. Jussi Jaaskelainen had to be at his best to tip it just over.
However, the Trotters had their first real moment of quality during the game after the Hammers failed to clear their lines. An excellent move saw Lee Chung-Yong feed Klasnic the ball whilst he continued a run into the box. An excellent cutting pass from Klasnic found the Korean again, this time behind the West Ham back-line and the midfielder buried it beyond Green. 1-0.
However, the home side were only in the lead for a few minutes before West Ham produced a goal of equal quality. Some neat footwork by Franco engineered himself some space to feed Jack Collison in Bolton's box. The Welsh youngster layed the ball off to an on-rushing Alessandro Diamanti, who left the keeper no chance with the equalizer.
It was all kicking off now and within 10 minutes of the equalizer, Bolton were back in front again. This time a deflected ball from a Cahill shot bounced kindly for Green. However, as the glovesman went to make a routine collection, he committed a howler and spilled the ball to Klasnic who snatched the ball and made no mistake from five yards out to put his side back in the lead again.
There was to be no second comeback from the Hammers as Cahill put the nail in the coffin with a few minutes to go. A corner from Ricardo Gardner was defended poorly and the captain rose unmarked to put the ball past Green for the third time.
West Ham tried to respond but Bolton comfortably saw the clock wind down to pick up an important three points. Zola's Hammers meanwhile are now firmly in the relegation battle and will look to regroup from their third defeat in a row.
Michael Landon, Goal.com
Get all the latest EPL news in the Goal.com Forums.
