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WHO Poll

Q: 2008/09 Bolton at Home

a/ Comfortable win.
51%

b/ We'll score, but until we learn to keep a clean sheet it'll be a draw.
25%

c/ Bullied and beaten by Bolton.
15%

d/ I've always called them Notlob. It's really funny.
5%

e/ Football? Pint? Football? Pint? Tough decision.
3%


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Latest Article

Vinny's Bolton Report
Vinny 05 Oct 2008

West Ham 1 Bolton Wanderers 3

Two Robert Green howlers gifted Bolton victory in a disappointing result on a miserable Sunday at Upton Park.

This was a bit of a freak game which saw unusual circumstances ruin a day which many (myself include) thought would be one which would see us emerge as victors and continue our good run of form. Unfortunately it was not to be and although this is not what I would call a terrible performance the result was obviously very disappointing.

Up until Robert Green gave Bolton the opener, we had just been getting into our stride and although we had not really tested the keeper, I believed that a goal would come with patience. Giving Bolton a goal was bad enough but to do it again just a few moments later effectively ended the game and although we did have our moments in the second half and did manage to get a goal with a healthy amount of time left it was just not to be.

Gianfranco Zola made no changes to the side which started against Fulham and Craig Bellamy had to make do with a place on the bench with Di Michele getting a further chance to show us what he can do.

Bolton won a free kick within ten seconds of the kick off and this would be one of the main themes of this game as the ref stopped the game for just about everything and this played into the hands of Bolton who like to disrupt the tempo with their ugly style of football.

It took us a few minutes to actually get hold of the ball as Bolton were powering their way forward in the opening stages but we did start to find our rhythm and get players on the ball and into space.

It was down the left with Etherington and Ilunga where we looked most dangerous and a strong run from Ilunga lead to a free kick being awarded. It was taken by Faubert who whipped the ball in but despite the slippery conditions, Bolton keeper Jaaskelainen held the ball well.

Mark Noble was shown the yellow card for a late tackle as ref Mike Dean began his card happy afternoon. Carlton Cole saw a decent effort go over the bar but the first real chance of the game came at the other end when Bolton’s Johan Elmander had a clear chance on goal but wasted it with a tame effort straight at Robert Green.

We came straight back at Bolton with Ilunga showing great skill as he burst into the box only for a last ditch block from Jay Lloyd Samuel.

Bolton were playing well and were very much in the game, but I was still confident about our own performance especially when we were on the break. Counter attacking is something we are good at and possesses some good quality when doing so with players like Etherington and Noble who really know how to drive forward.

An example of this was when from a Bolton corner we broke away with Noble and Parker which ended with Di Michele hitting an excellent curling shot at goal which went inches wide.

I thought we were battling well and although it had proven to be a difficult game I was still confident our goal would come.

But then it all turns pear shaped as a mistake is made which you cannot legislate for. A long hopeful cross into the area saw Robert Green go up to catch but then drop and Kevin Davies stabbed the ball into the back of the net. It was a real clanger and the handful of Bolton supporters (it would have been less but for the free travel the club put on) were delighted with the gift their team had received.

Our players seemed a little shaken up by such a freak goal but came back with a free kick from Noble which went just wide with the Bolton keeper struggling to get across.

Robert Green making one bad mistake is rare enough but to make a second was a real shock to the system and when Bolton further their lead it seemed to suck the life out of Upton Park with both players and supporters completely deflated.

A well struck effort from Bolton’s Steinsson was saved by Green but he failed to hold onto the ball and Gary Cahill was on hand to tap the ball into the goal to put the visitors 2-0 up.

Going in a half time losing by two goals was something I did not expect before the game had kicked off. In fact, I think I was more confident going into this game than any I can remember in the last couple of years. No matter how many times West Ham do this sort of thing I never seem to learn.

The rain continued to fall at half time and our players came out a few minutes earlier than the Bolton team and the officials.

I was of the thinking that if we were patient and got some confidence back in our play (which had been lost with that second goal) we could still get something out of the game.

Bolton were obviously going to shut up shop and with the physical ability most of their team possess this was not much of a shock.

We were so close to reducing the deficit early on in the second period as Jussi Jaaskelainen made a stunning save in front of the Bobby Moore stand. It was Carlton Cole who received the ball, turned and hit a left foot shot which seemed certain to find the back of the net but somehow Jaaskelainen clawed the ball away.

Frustration levels began to rise with the referee not helping matters by giving some very soft free kicks against us. One of the worst being an alleged foul by Behrami who was penalised for a push. This saw Julien Faubert show his frustrations at the ref and finding himself in the book.

Craig Bellamy entered the field of play in place of the poor Di Michele. Bellamy seemed to move out to the left with Etherington coming over to the right hand side.

We saw a lot of the ball but were having no luck in breaking Bolton down. Some of our passing was very poor and Scott Parker was guilty of this far to many times for a player of his quality.

Saying that, one of his overhit passes actually led to the corner which in turn led to our goal. A ball down the right hand side was overhit but Etherington didn’t give it up and picked up the pace, flicked the ball off the defender and won the corner.

Etherington took the corner and it was met by Upson who head towards goal and Carlton Cole got in front of his marker and flicked the ball into goal.

Back in the game and with over twenty minutes remaining, Upton Park had found it’s life again and we needed to keep the tempo up.

But Bolton know how to employ spoiling tactics and they dragged the game out winning free kicks and making substitutions. They stifled us and we had nothing to offer in a way of breaking them down.

A effort from Behrami went wide when he may have done better but there was to be no great chance that would deliver itself.

Zola removed Etherington and replaced him with Freddie Sears who was fresh off the back of four goals in midweek in a reserve game against West Brom.

With five minutes remaining Bolton killed off any hope of a comeback as they stole a third goal. Another soft free kick was awarded by Mike Dean this time against Ilunga. Bolton’s Matthew Taylor (who had just come on as sub) stepped up and hit a stunning 25 yard drive which flew past a slow-to-move Robert Green.

Cue the fan exodus as the 33,715 quickly fell in numbers. We just did not have enough in the second half to trouble Bolton who were tactically spot on in nullifying our counter attacking. They doubled up down the flanks and shut out every option of a pass.

Player Reviews

Robert Green
Not much to say apart from his mistake cost us the game.

Herita Ilunga
Another very positive performance from the left back. He is looking better as each game progresses. A good defender and wins just about every tackle he goes in for. Also excellent going forward and seemed to have quite a bit of skill about him.

Lucas Neill
When you concede three goals you would look at the two center halves and see if they were at fault, but they were not today and with a difficult physical task Neill played well again in this new found position. Bolton offer no pace so this was playing right into the hands of Neill.

Matthew Upson
Like Neill he was not at fault of the goals today and defensively I thought we and Upson did quite well. Apart from one dodgy back pass he did well enough.

Julien Faubert
Having been happy with his performances in recent weeks at right back today he was very disappointing. He was getting murdered by Ricardo Gardener (who always does this to us) and when going forward his crossing was terrible.

Valon Behrami
The best of the three midfielders today. His work rate was the most promising thing about his performance as well as actually being able to find a West Ham player when passing.

Scott Parker
A very frustrating performance from Parker. Always wanted the ball and was not afraid to get forward but his final ball was too often poor. He just kept giving the ball away and making the wrong pass which is something he seems to keep doing.

Mark Noble
Like Parker his passing was his main flaw today. He worked hard but some lazy misplaced passes made his performance frustrating to watch.

Matthew Etherington
Started well but like the team seemed to be shell shocked by the two quick fire Bolton goals. When he got going he looked good and did well in the second half to win the corner for the eventual goal.

David Di Michele
Kept slipping over and losing the ball continually. Apart from one decent effort in the first half he was again pretty anonymous.

Carlton Cole
Worked hard, was very unlucky not to score earlier than he did and eventually got his goal. Slowly bringing goals into his game and with Bellamy alongside him I am confident he will get more.

Subs Used

Craig Bellamy (on for Di Michele 56 minutes)
Had very little impact which was disappointing as we expected him to galvanize us. But the plus point is that he did not get injured again.

Freddie Sears (on for Etherington 79 mins)
Hardly saw the ball.

Subs not used: Lastuvka, Lopez, Boa Morte, Mullins, Davenport.

Overall

A disappointing result no doubt, but not a terrible performance and let’s be honest the first two goals were simply down to goal keeping errors. This was not tactical naivety by Zola, this wasn’t a performance where we find out the flaws of certain players, this was simply a bad day at the office.

We are in a healthy position in the league and Hull City are up next in a game which we are more than capable of winning despite Hull’s good form.

It could all be a lot worse - we could be Tottenham Hotspur.

Franco’s Feelings

"It happens, sometimes it is the goalkeeper, sometimes it is the striker. I've missed chances from virtually the goal line.
"I'm sure Robert will come back and we'll be thanking his for saving a penalty or something.
"We have total faith in him and I have total faith in the whole team."

Articles

Vinny
Posted 05 Oct 2008

Vinny's Bolton Report
Mistakes from Robert Green cost us the game.

Match Commentator
Posted 05 Oct 2008

The Official Match Thread - West Ham vs Bolton Wanderers
Barclays FA Premier League
Boleyn Ground
Sunday 5 October
1.30pm

Vinny
Posted 04 Oct 2008

Player Of The Month - September
Matthew Etherington

Vinny
Posted 02 Oct 2008

View From The Opposition - Bolton Wanderers
A preview for the upcoming game vs Bolton on Sunday 5th October.

Vinny
Posted 27 Sep 2008

Vinny's Fulham Report
West Ham claim their fourth win in six games.