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West Ham 1-3 Bolton: Zola backs blunder keeper Robert Green

By John Cross 6/10/2008

Robert Green had a nightmare as Gianfranco Zola's honeymoon period as West Ham boss was brought to a shuddering end.

Those old Bolton battlers outfought, outwitted and even outclassed West Ham with a richly deserved victory which left Green horribly red-faced.

The Hammers keeper, so often their penalty saviour, dropped a clanger for Kevin Davies's 30th-minute opener, spilling a simple cross to the feet of the big Bolton striker. Green acknowledged his mistake with an apologetic hand to the West Ham fans but then, just four minutes later, he should have been saying sorry again for not doing better on Gary Cahill's second for Bolton.

They were two devastating blows from which West Ham never recovered and Bolton sub Matt Taylor hit a late free-kick to snuff out any chance of a fight back after Carlton Cole had pulled one back for Hammers with a 68th-minute header.

But Zola defended Green afterwards - and insisted he will bounce back. Zola said: "I've got nothing to say to him because he is a great keeper. He has got all of my trust.

"I'm sure that in the next game he will come back and save two penalties. I'm sure that all of the players will come back from this. It's painful to lose. It was painful as a player and maybe even more painful as a manager."

West Ham had a 100 per cent home record before yesterday while Bolton had not won a single point on their travels and yet Gary Megson's men roughed up Hammers with a snarling and gritty performance.

Davies has been branded the dirtiest player in the Premier League by Sir Alex Ferguson and yet there are few teams in the top flight who would not like him in their side.

Megson said: "Everybody focuses on him being strong and physical but he's a skilful player as well.

"We only just stayed up last season but our home form was only six points worse than when we qualified for Europe, which means our away record is shocking. This is a great result for us and I was pleased with the manner in which it came."

Green was undone when he rose in the box, went to catch a straightforward Jlloyd Samuel cross, and dropped it at Davies's feet. It was a gift.

Then, when Andy O'Brien's free-kick was not cleared by Matt Upson, Green could only parry Gretar Rafn Steinsson's fierce shot to the feet of Cahill.

It was hardly good timing for Green on the day Fabio Capello named his England squad.

Cole headed in off the bar to give Hammers a flicker of hope but super sub Taylor rifled a stunning free-kick past Green to deservedly give Bolton all three points.

West Ham: Green 4, Faubert 5, Neill 6, Upson 7, Ilunga 4, Behrami 6, Noble 6, Parker 6, Etherington 6 (Sears, 79), Di Michele 5 (Bellamy 54,5), Cole 7.

Goal: Cole 69

Bolton: Jasskelainen 7, Steinsson 7, Cahill 8, A O'Brien 8, Samuel 7, Davies 8, Nolan 8, McCann 7, Muamba 6 (J O'Brien, 80), Gardner 6; Elmander 5 (Taylor, 73, 7).

Goals: Davies 30, Cahill 34, Taylor 86

Referee: Mike Dean

ATTENDANCE: 33,715.

COMPUTER

WEST HAM

BOLTON

HAMMERS LOSE THEIR WAY

46% BALL POSSESSION 54%

FACE TO FACE

7 Corners 7

5 Offside 1

84% Pass completion 68%