Zola Relaxed Despite Defeat

Speaking to the BBC after the game, Zola admitted he had been surprised to see his side go two goals down in the first half. He said:  “Sometimes it happens that you are playing well but you find yourself losing 2-0. It’s difficult to accept but it sometimes happens.”

The first goal from Kevin Davies was largely down to a mistake by goalkeeper Robert Green. However, the Hammers boss refused to criticise his stopper after the match.

“I’m sure that Robert will come back and we are going to be thanking him for saving a penalty or something like that,” explained the Italian, “We have total faith in him and I have total faith in the whole team.”

Gary Cahill then made it 2-0, although Carlton Cole pulled a goal back for the home side and Zola admitted he was hoping his side could then go on to equalise. The Irons boss admitted: “I was expecting something to happen in the last few minutes but unfortunately it happened in the wrong way.”

Matt Taylor then sealed victory for Bolton with a superb free kick but the former Chelsea star revealed he had learnt much from his first defeat and that it could even help his team to improve.

“It’s been a game in which I learnt a lot and I hope my players did so too,” said Zola before concluding, “Sometimes to improve you have to go through bad games like this.”

Gill Clark