BOLTON WANDERERS v WEST HAM UNITED
BARCLAYS PREMIER LEAGUE
SATURDAY 9 APRIL 2011
KICK-OFF: 3PM
FULL AUDIO COVERAGE - WEST HAM TV
iPHONE APP I TWITTER I FACEBOOK I PODCAST
Full-time score - Bolton Wanderers 3-0 West Ham United
92 mins - Bolton are playing out time, but they're still creating chances. Elmander crosses and Sturridge pokes his shot inches wide of the near post. Green lumps the ball upfield and referee Probert blows the final whistle. Post-match reaction will appear shortly on whufc.com and West Ham TV.
91 mins - We're into the first of two added minutes as the corner is cleared. Bolton come again and Cohen beats both Da Costa and Tomkins before forcing Green into a save low to his left.
90 mins - I really do sympathise with the supporters sat away to my right. It's a long way back to London. Taylor crosses and Green can only help the ball behind for a corner.
86 mins - This has been such a strange game. Bolton just haven't had to do enough to win it with relative ease. Two early goals all but put the game to bed, and Sturridge's second goal ended it as a contest. West Ham have hit the post and created a fair few half-chances, but they've never threatened a West Brom-style comeback.
83 mins - He's been on about 45 seconds, but Klasnic shows no rustiness as he beats two challenges and shoots a yard wide of the far post.
82 mins - Davies gets a standing ovation as he is replaced by Ivan Klasnic.
79 mins - Probert initially gives a corner after Bridge challenges Cohen, but after some ironic cheering from the away fans behind the goal, he smiles and gives a goal kick. I'm glad he finds it so funny, but then again he hasn't got to drive all the way back to London.
78 mins - Lee is replaced by Matt Taylor, while Petrov comes off and Cohen takes his place.
75 mins - Parker comes off and is replaced by Spector, who almost immediately receives an accidental kick in the face from Elmander. The Swede immediately apologises.
71 mins - Keane involved again before Parker plays the ball to Hitzlsperger. The German plays in Ba, but Cahill makes another potentially goal-saving tackle. Corner. Hitzlsperger delivers and Da Costa wins the header. It is going in, but Petrov has stayed on his post and controls before clearing his lines.
70 mins - Credit to Keane because he is trying to make things happen. He picks up the ball in midfield and tries to release Cole, but the goalkeeper is out quickly to clear for a throw.
69 mins - Bridge wins a corner off Lee. It's headed clear by Knight and Parker can't keep the ball in on the near side.
66 mins - When it's not your day... Ba controls Keane's pass on his chest before cutting inside and letting fly with a right-foot shot that Jaaskelainen watches fly past him and thud against the inside of the post before bouncing out. Bolton counter immediately and Sturridge out-strips Tomkins before dragging his shot a couple of yards wide of the far post.
64 mins - I'm not sure that was a foul, to be honest. Tomkins is penalised for bringing down Davies. Petrov strides up and curls the 30-yard free-kick on to the roof of the net.
62 mins - Why didn't West Ham play like this before they went 3-0 down? Keane finds Hitzlsperger wide left and his cross is hacked behind by a sliding Knight. The corner is won by Tomkins, whose header is destined for the top corner until Jaaskelainen again paws it away. The ball falls back to Cole, who finds Noble, but he takes a touch and can only shoot well wide under pressure.
61 mins - Cole looks to be offside as he chests the ball to Ba. It is worked wide right to Jacobsen, who finds Keane. The Irishman turns and has space to shoot, but his left-foot effort flies high and wide of the post
60 mins - Ba wins a free-kick 30 yards out. It is taken short to Keane, who stands the ball up. Jaaskelainen pushes it against his own crossbar, but he's being fouled by Cole.
59 mins - Sturridge should make it 4-0, no question about that. The striker has the freedom of Lancashire to beat Green from 12 yards, but his lob is not high enough to beat the goalkeeper.
58 mins - Hitzlsperger crosses and Knight gets a vital touch to concede another corner. Hitzlsperger takes it but Bolton win the initial header before Tomkins nodss harmlessly behind for a goal kick.
56 mins - West Ham come forward through Keane, who ignores Bridge's run before winning a corner. Hitzlsperger receives the short corner and crosses, Ba wins it and Jaaskelainen makes a fantastic save to palm the ball around the post. The second corner is played to Noble, but his delivery is behind Da Costa, who cannot direct the ball on target.
55 mins - This is damage limitation at the moment. Hitzlsperger is caught in possession - it looks like a foul - and Muamba plays in Sturridge. The striker looks set to bag a hat-trick until Tomkins slides in. Corner. It is cleared.
53 mins - Parker runs at the Bolton defence before being brought down a yard from the corner of the box. Noble takes the free-kick, but it's too deep again. Da Costa again retrieves before Cole wins a throw.
51 mins - GOAL! They haven't learned their lesson, West Ham. Sturridge runs at the back four and isolates Parker before cutting on to his left foot and planting a low shot inside the right-hand post. Green is disgusted.
50 mins - Better from West Ham. Hitzlsperger tries to pick out Cole with a diagonal cross but Knight stretches and heads behind for a corner. Da Costa picks up the deep ball and works the ball to Keane, Parker eventuallty shoots, but it's weak and straight at Jaaskelainen.
49 mins - Keane gets free down the left and in behind Steinsson. He crosses deep for Ba, but the ball is headed clear. West Ham keep the pressure on and Keane is again involved, crossing to Cole, but the No9's header bounces wide of the near post.
47 mins - West Ham are playing with a diamond. Keane is behind the front two, with Noble and Hitzlsperger right and left and Parker in front of the back four.
46 mins - Cole almost has an impact with ten seconds of the re-start, winning the ball from Cahill and playing in Ba, whose smart shot is saved by Jaaskelainen. The assistant referee flags for offside, but replays suggest the Senegal striker was level with Cahill and Knight.
West Ham are going to make two half-time changes. Cole and Jacobsen are coming on, with Piquionne and Upson the pair to make way. The attendance is announced as 25,857. Parker has the captain's armband on.
45 mins - Into the third minute of added time and the free-kick comes to nothing. In fact, Bolton get another chance to break before the referee stops Petrov in his tracks with the half-time whistle. Grant did not see that as he had already headed down to the dressing room.
45 mins - Yellow card for Cahill after a clumsy foul on Piquionne 30 yards out. A chance here for West Ham to do something before the break.
45 mins - We are playing two minutes of added time. Piquionne gives the ball away but luckily Bolton do not take advantage.
45 mins - Well played Parker. He seems OK after that earlier scare and does just enough to nod the ball back to Green under pressure from Davies. He had tracked the run well.
44 mins - Bolton are playing the ball around comfortably in midfield. They seem to be able to attack whenever they feel like it. I think they have just strung about 15 passes together before the move finished with Da Costa hacking clear on his own penalty spot.
42 mins - Bolton counter once more. This time it finishes with Sturridge firing wide.
41 mins - Noble and Bridge combine to win a corner. The two work a short one and eventually Bridge feeds Hitzlsperger onthe edge of the area. The German has another go with his right foot but hits it straight at Jaaskelainen.
40 mins - Grant will be relishing the chance to get to his players at half-time. He has had to watch from the Directors Box but will doubtless have plenty to say in the interval.
39 mins - It takes about four goes but eventually the Hammers get the ball clear. Only for Petrov to pick it up again, surge down the left and tease a cross that goes right across the goal. The Hammers counter quickly but it comes to nothing after Bridge's weak cross from the left.
38 mins - Da Costa concedes a free-kick with a hand-ball. Chance here for Bolton to pump the ball into the box.
37 mins - Parker is back on the pitch. Hopefully he is going to be OK to continue.
35 mins - Worrying moments here as Parker goes off for treatment from physio Andy Rolls.
34 mins - Bolton are threatening to score nearly every time they go forward. This time, Parker loses the ball in midfield after his feet gave way on the turf. Only Da Costa's last-ditch tackle denies Muamba on the edge of the ear. .
33mins - So nearly 3-0. A free header fror Sturridge from Petrov's cross. This time, the effort is tame and goes straight at Green.
30 mins - Elmander has a go for goal and his shot is only just wide of the post with Green flat-footed. Too much space there for the Sweden striker.
27 mins - Ba does well to head clear in his own penalty area. That was a dangerous corner from Petrov.
25 mins - Yet another Bolton chance. This time, Cahill heads for goal from Alonso's deep free-kick. Can the Hammers make it to half-time wtihout conceding again?
21 mins - West Ham have a mountain to climb. Da Costa sends a long ball diagonally to Piquionne, who wins a corner. Noble takes it short to Hitzlsperger, but the German drags his low shot wide of the near post with his right foot.
20 mins - This is a nightmare so far, but Bridge crosses for Ba and Knight heads behind for a corner. It is headed clear.
19 mins - GOAL! West Ham can't deal with Bolton at the moment. Elmander this time gets in and crosses deep for Petrov. The Bulgarian controls, crosses and Lee has all the time and space he needs to plant a downward header past Green.
18 mins - That should probably be 2-0 as Davies streaks away from Upson and shoots right-footed. Green deflects the ball behind for a corner, but the referee gives a goal kick.
17 mins - West Ham have some decent pressure as Piquionne runs at Alonso before the ball drops to Tomkins. He plays it to Parker, who feeds Noble, but the midfielder's cross is too deep and easy for the home side.
16 mins - They have not learned yet. Sturridge controls a long ball from Steinsson and Da Costa gives him time to shoot again, this time from 25 yards. Thankfully, it's a low effort and straight at Green.
13 mins - GOAL! Da Costa and Upson give Sturridge far too much time and space on the edge of the penalty area and he takes advantage by curling a superb shot high beyond Green and into the top left-hand corner.
12 mins - This has been entertaining so far. Steinsson gets in behind Bridge and crosses. Davies tries a cute pass for Lee, but it's a yard in front of the Korean and rolls harmlessly wide. There have been heart-in-mouth moments at both ends of the pitch already.
10 mins - Great ball by Keane, who holds possession just long enough to release Bridge. The left-back looks to be in on goal but he delays just long enough to let Cahill get in a superb challenge.
9 mins - That's another half-chance. Ba collects Piquionne's throw on his chest and tries to spin past Knight. He nearly makes space for a shot, but Knight puts enough pressure on the No21 to allow Jaaskelainen to collect.
7 mins - Steinsson misjudges a header and Keane gets in behind. He crosses towards Ba, but Knight wins the header and the right-back is there to keep the ball in and complete the clearance.
4 mins - Sturridge comes within a yard of putting Bolton in front, but his shot flicks off Bridge and behind for a corner. The ball comes over from the left-hand side and Cahill heads down a yard wide of the other post. So close for the hosts.
2 mins - That's real quality early on from West Ham. Hitzlsperger wins the ball back and feeds Keane. He finds Ba, who brings his team-mates into play. The Hammers keep the ball really well, with Noble, Parker, Hitzlsperger and Tomkins all involved. The German then tries to pick out the run of Ba, and Knight needs all of his 6'7" frame to cut the pass out with his head. Ba would have been in on goal if that pass had been a yard higher.
1 min - A long ball forward bounces up after Da Costa wins the header against Davies. Elmander collects but loses his balance as he shoots and the ball flies well wide. Ironic cheers from the away fans.
3pm - Bolton's players get together for a huddle. West Ham are going to kick-off shooting towards the North Stand. The sun is shining brightly as Ba and Keane get the game underway...
2.57pm - Here come the two teams, led by captains Matthew Upson and Kevin Davies. I'm sure the coin toss won't be the last those two see of each other this afternoon. The away fans are making all the noise, lifting the roof off the South Stand with a rousing rendition of 'Bubbles'. With Wolves losing at home to Everton earlier and Wigan facing Chelsea, this is a real opportunity for West Ham to put some distance between themselves and the bottom two.
2.55pm - The two flag-waving Bolton men in the centre circle are getting absolutely soaked by two sprinklers that are jetting water onto the playing surface. The poor blokes obviously aren't allowed to move to somewhere drier! The chaps putting up the Barclays Premier League banner behind where the two teams will line up for handshakes are also wet through! Only a few moments to go until kick-off...
2.35pm - Team-news wise, West Ham have made three changes - Jacobsen, O'Neil and Cole making way for Tomkins, Keane and Piquionne - while Bolton have replaced David Wheater and Tamir Cohen with Zat Knight and Chung-Yong Lee. Wheater is one yellow card away from a suspension, with Bolton taking on Stoke City in the FA Cup Sponsored by EON semi-finals at Wembley next weekend.
2.30pm - Well, we've half-an-hour to go until kick-off and the two squads are both out warming up on the pitch here at the Reebok Stadium. The stands are slowly filling up, with West Ham occupying the lower tier of the South Stand to my right. I do hope all the travelling Hammers have made it on time, as the M6 was living up to its reputation as England's largest car park this morning. With Manchester United and Blackburn Rovers both at home and the Grand National taking place in Liverpool this afternoon, the motorway was busy as you like, and the service station I stopped at was crammed with West Ham supporters enjoying a fry-up to sustain them for the long journey north!
Good afternoon and welcome to a gloriously warm and sunny Reebok Stadium for this afternoon's vital Barclays Premier League fixture between Bolton Wanderers and West Ham United.
We're actually out in the foothills of the western Pennines near the village of Horwich, with the sun beating down on the rolling green slopes and the retail park surrounding Bolton's 13-year-old home.
West Ham will be hoping the good weather sees them continue their fine away run of results. The Hammers are unbeaten in four games on the road and a draw or victory today will see them record their best away run since early 2009.
Bolton, however, have proved to be difficult opponents in recent seasons and go into this afternoon's fixture on a run of seven successive wins over the Hammers in all competitions - six of them in the Premier League. In all, West Ham have failed to win on their previous eleven visits to the Reebok - their last win here coming courtesy of a 3-0 success on 18 November 1995, when Ian Bishop, Danny Williamson and Tony Cottee got the goals.
Bolton Wanderers: Jaaskelainen, Steinsson, Cahill, Knight, Alonso, Lee, Muamba, Petrov, Elmander, Davies, Sturridge
Subs: Bogdan, Robinson, Taylor, Cohen, Moreno, Blake, Klasnic
West Ham United: Green, Tomkins, Da Costa, Upson, Bridge, Noble, Parker, Hitzlsperger, Keane, Ba, Piquionne
Subs: Boffin, Gabbidon, Jacobsen, Spector, O'Neil, Obinna, Cole