West Ham United 3-1 Bolton: Terrific
Tevez
Carlos Tevez dragged West Ham out of the Premiership relegation
zone with two goals and an assist in a 3-1 home win against
Bolton.
JamieMcDonald/GettyImages
Carlos Tevez scores his free-kickNow only the `Gang of Four' and
their threat to sue the Premier League for not docking them points
for illegally signing Tevez and Javier Mascherano earlier in the
season looks the major threat to West Ham's top-flight status after
six wins in the last eight matches.
Boss Alan Curbishley, who saw them win only one of their first 11
after he arrived to replace Alan Pardew, must have thought, like
the home fans, they were going to rack up a snooker score against
hapless Bolton with an electric display in the first half.
But after Tevez curled in a sublime free-kick for an early opener,
added a simple second and laid on a third for Mark Noble, the
Hammers went to sleep in the second period and did not awaken until
the last few minutes when substitute Marlon Harewood twice failed
by inches to add to their lead.
By then, Gary Speed had pulled one back for Bolton on 67 minutes
after keeper Rob Green superbly saved from Nicolas Anelka.
It was some consolation for new manager Sammy Lee in what had
looked a baptism of fire just a few days after Sam Allardyce's
shock walk-out.
But unless they radically improve against Aston Villa next Sunday,
their dream of qualifying for the UEFA Cup again will be
over.
Curbishley's team were clearly in the mood when referee Mike Riley
had to call West Ham's players from a pre-match huddle for the
kick-off, such was their determination to escape the drop in their
last home appearance of the season.
Bolton, trying to prove there is still life after Allardyce
following his resignation with just two games to go, played with
top-scorer Anelka alone up front but with dangerous Kevin Davies at
the front of a midfield diamond.
Out of nowhere it was Tevez who delighted the home crowd by giving
the Hammers an 11th minute lead with a superb free-kick.
He was brought down six yards outside the area by Abdoulaye Meite
and stepped up to curl a beautiful effort over the wall and wide of
keeper Jussi Jaaskelainen.
Tevez ran joyfully to the sidelines to celebrate his fifth goal of
the season but was soon back in action, lining up the Hammers wall
to face an Anelka free-kick.
He must have got it just right as the Frenchman's attempt from 25
yards failed to breach the obstruction.
And it got even better for West Ham and Tevez when he slotted home
a second goal after 22 minutes.
Midfielder Noble was the instigator when dispossessing Anelka
inside his own half and sending Luis Boa Morte scampering down the
left to lay on a simple sidefooted effort for the South
American.
Tevez might have had a hat-trick soon afterwards when his powerful
shot was beaten out by Jaaskelainen, but instead he laid on the
third for Noble in the 29th minute - with assistance from
Bolton.
Ivan Campo's control was a shambles as he tried to trap a hacked
clearance by Anton Ferdinand in his own half and although Speed
should have tidied up, the home side grabbed possession again and
Tevez looked up from the left to see Noble totally unmarked at the
far side to volley sweetly home.
Skipper Nigel Reo-Coker, Yossi Benayoun and Noble dominated the
midfield as Bolton gormlessly declined to refine their one-up, long
ball approach.
Anelka looked an isolated figure at the front as both Davies and
Nolan were too embroiled in helping stem the West Ham avalanche to
support him.
New Bolton boss Lee must have given an Allardyce-style grilling to
his side at half time because they made a fair fist of trying to
turn things around in the second period.
Goalkeeper Green made a fine save turning Anelka's long-range blast
round a post, but as Bolton stepped up their barrage and the game
became broken up by a series of spiteful tackles, it was no
surprise to see the visitors cut West Ham's lead with 23 minutes to
go.
Bobby Zamora, a willing workhorse for the first hour, was taken off
soon after reacting to a challenge and being shown a yellow
card.
But within three minutes of Harewood's arrival as substitute,
veteran Speed struck for Bolton.
Noble lost the ball to Davies, who found Anelka, and the
Frenchman's touch was ideally into Speed's stride for a scoring
shot.
For a while Bolton's big boot threatened a way back, but the
Hammers saw off the threat and Harewood was twice close to adding
to the score late on.
Tevez's First Goal
Tevez for 2nd
Noble adds a 3rd
Evergreen Gary Speed gets a consolation
