A last-gasp Kevin Nolan equaliser rescued a point for Bolton in the 1-1 draw with West Ham at Upton Park.
Bolton earn late point at Upton Park
A last-gasp Kevin Nolan equaliser rescued a point for Bolton in the 1-1 draw with West Ham at Upton Park.
Hammers defender George McCartney had put the home side in front on 20 minutes when he volleyed in with style for his first club career goal after Bolton had failed to clear a corner.
Bolton, though, then dominated and were unfortunate not to be back in the game when McCartney cleared off the line from El Hadji Diouf and Danny Guthrie hit a post from 20 yards.
After the interval West Ham started brightly and Carlton Cole was denied on the break when Bolton goalkeeper Jussi Jaaskelainen saved well.
Bolton also threatened and Kevin Davies should have equalised when he headed over when well placed.
However, Nolan then dramatically prodded home from close range on 93 minutes after West Ham struggled to defend to ensure Bolton recorded a vital point.
Nicolas Anelka's absence through injury took away Bolton's unpredictability in attack and they punted balls forward for Davies to win in the West Ham penalty area.
Although Ivan Campo shaved the post with an early free-kick, it was the hosts who appeared the more confident, despite their lengthy list of injuries.
Causing panic
Mark Noble had a groin strain and Anton Ferdinand a hamstring problem, adding themselves to a treatment room already containing the likes of Dean Ashton, Craig Bellamy and Scott Parker.
The players remaining quickly imposed themselves on Bolton, Matthew Etherington and Nolberto Solano causing panic with dangerous deliveries.
Lee Bowyer appeared to have wasted a glorious chance in the 12th minute when Cole headed into his path and he fired wide with the goalkeeper to beat, but the flag was up anyway.
Etherington then got behind the Bolton defence when he outpaced Andy O'Brien but his low cross was cut out by Abdoulaye Meite, with the ball spinning to safety.
The opener came in the 19th minute after Bolton failed to clear a Solano corner.
Matthew Upson had an effort cleared off the line, then flicked on when the ball was crossed back in, and McCartney produced an acrobatic volley past Jaaskelainen.
It was the defender's first goal in West Ham colours - but he was required for his usual defensive duties two minutes later when Diouf was found on the edge of the area.
Diouf wriggled past Lucas Neill before seeing his shot loop off the Hammers captain and over goalkeeper Robert Green but McCartney headed off the line.
Bolton forced their way back into the reckoning with their forthright, direct style.
Gary Speed, back in the side and assured of his future at the club after Megson blocked a loan move to Sheffield United, fed off a knockdown but volleyed over the crossbar.
Guthrie got on the end of a Davies header and struck the near post with his volley from just outside the area.
Nolan failed to get any purchase on an effort early in the second half, while Jaaskelainen was equal to a Solano volley when the midfielder did put his foot through the ball.
Penalty appeal
The Hammers had a penalty appeal waved away when O'Brien tussled with Bowyer.
Green then tipped over when Speed drilled a volley from the edge of the area but the Hammers goalkeeper then flapped at a corner but Davies could not direct his header on target.
Ricardo Gardner had to clear in the 65th minute when Luis Boa Morte latched onto a hopeful ball and took it around Jaaskelainen before pulling back, with Gardner getting ahead of Cole to head away from danger.
Cole had a close-range effort saved before he was substituted, while Davies clipped the bar from a Guthrie cross and Jonathan Spector hacked off the line in stoppage-time.
Then Nolan struck with seconds left after Lubomir Michalik flicked on a cross.
| West Ham United |
Team Statistics |
Bolton Wanderers |
| 1 |
Goals |
1 |
| 1 |
1st Half Goals |
0 |
| 6 |
Shots on Target |
6 |
| 4 |
Shots off Target |
5 |
| 1 |
Blocked Shots |
3 |
| 8 |
Corners |
3 |
| 13 |
Fouls |
16 |
| 3 |
Offsides |
2 |
| 2 |
Yellow Cards |
1 |
| 0 |
Red Cards |
0 |
| 69.1 |
Passing Success |
70.2 |
| 26 |
Tackles |
23 |
| 80.8 |
Tackles Success |
73.9 |
| 47.5 |
Possession |
52.5 |
| 51.1 |
Territorial Advantage |
48.9 |
|
