Bwfc Uk

Bolton picked up 3 points at the Reebok for the first time since January 2nd as Kevin Davies’ shot just after half time proved to be the only (allowed) goal of the game. Wanderers had two goals ruled out for offside as well as two shots cleared off the line but also relied on some good saves by Ali Al Habsi as they just edged it.

Gary Megson decided not to bring a single sub on in the game, which is a bit strange but Alan Curbishley was forced into a change just 3 minutes into the match, when Anton Ferdinand limped off (taking the longest route possible) with a hamstring injury.

Bolton then forced first Jonathan Spector and then George McCartney to clear off the line, before Diouf was denied a goal by the linesman’s flag. The sides went in at the break level, but in just the first minute of the second half Davies won a corner and then scored from it with a tap in after a mix-up between defender and keeper.

Wanderers had another goal ruled out - this time from Kevin Nolan, as they pressed for a second, but West Ham pushed forwards and had the remainder of the game virtually to themselves. Gary Cahill cleared off the line for the Wanderers before Ali Al Habsi spectacularly tipped over Ashton’s overhead kick. Al Habsi also saved well from Scott Parker as Bolton hung on for their first home win for 101 days.

The players deserve great credit not just for the way they played but in the circumstances in which they played because we didn’t just battle, scrap and run and fight we actually played it on quite a few occasions.

We had maybe three kicked off the line, a couple have gone down Robert Green’s throat which could have gone either side and we’ve had a couple of goals disallowed which were touch and go and not a massive amount came from West Ham.

- Gary Megson

However, it doesn’t really make a difference in terms of the table. A win for Fulham and a draw for Birmingham meant the bottom four stayed exactly the same.