Football Focus Highlight

Bolton Wanderers gained three priceless points as they beat West Ham 3-1 at the Reebok Stadium in a result that lifts them out of the Premier League relegation zone.

Chung-Yong Lee gave Bolton the lead 19 minutes into the second half before Alessandro Diamanti levelled things up for the Hammers five minutes later. But Ivan Klasnic and Gary Cahill found the back of the net on 77 and 88 minutes respectively to hand the hosts all three points.

Although the game was won by Bolton it will be remembered for Robert Green's howler with the game at 1-1 and 23 minutes remaining on the clock. The Hammers keeper could not hold Cahill's tame shot, leaving Klasnic to bundle the ball into an empty net and put the Trotters 2-1 ahead.

Kevin Davies should have put Bolton ahead after 33 seconds, the striker turning on the ball 20 yards out before shooting towards goal. West Ham defender Daniel Gabbidon got a touch and the deflection left Green totally flat-footed but the ball flew wide of the left-hand post.

While this was a real stroke of luck for West Ham, they received none after 20 minutes when Kieron Dyer was forced from the pitch with another injury.




Shortly afterwards Bolton again threatened. Fabrice Muamba strode forward and shot, left-footed, from 20 yards. Jack Collison hurled himself in the way with the deflection just sneaking past the post with Green beaten.

The second half came to life with chances for both sides within 20 seconds of each other on 52 minutes. First, Cahill's shot was well blocked by Green from just inside the penalty area and then Scott Parker broke up field for West Ham only to see Jussi Jaaskelainen palm away his 25-yard effort.

Lee gave Bolton the lead just after the hour. He played a delightful one-two with Klasnic on the edge of the penalty area leaving the South Korean to coolly chip the ball over an advancing Green.

West Ham drew level soon after with the best goal of the game.

Guillermo Franco danced into the left-side of the penalty area, slipping the ball to a rampaging Jack Collison on the penalty spot. The young midfielder turned Cahill and set up the advancing Diamanti who swept the ball into the top right hand corner of the goal.

Cahill sealed the points for Gary Megson's side with a towering header in the closing minutes from Ricardo Gardner's pin-point corner.

The result is another blow for Gianfranco Zola while Gary Megson lives to fight another day.
Mark Applin / Eurosport

Source: http://uk.eurosport.yahoo.com/15122009/58/premier-league-bolton-register-precious-win.html