Premier League
Bolton 3-1 West Ham United 

Tuesday, 15th December 2009
by Staff Writer

Another errow-strewn performance condemned Gianfranco Zola's side to a second successive away defeat.

Once again the travelling supporters were subjected to a lesson in how not to defend as West Ham simply fell apart in the second half, conceding three goals within 24 minutes - and every one due to a defensive error.

Herita Ilunga, a shadow of the player of last season was guilty of ball-watching for the first goal on 64 minutes; as the rest of the defence moved out following a corner Ilunga played Lee Chung Yong onside before the Korean finished smartly, lifting his effort over the advancing Robert Green.

West Ham drew level just five minutes later when an excellent move involving Guillermo Franco and Jack Collison culminated with a fine Alessandro Diamanti effort from 12 yards. But the home side were back in front on 77 minutes when an horrendous error by Green allowed Klasnic to restore Bolton's earlier lead.

A long range shot was palmed down by Green who cannot have noticed Klasnic a yard or two to his left. As Green went to claim the ball Klasnic stole in to steal the ball and tap into the gaping net much to the dismay of the England keeper who, like too many others, has failed to reach his usual high standards this season.

The game was wrapped up two minutes from the end of normal time when James Tomkins simply lost his man at a corner allowing Gary Cahill a free header at the far post.

To add insult to injury Gianfranco Zola, whose slender squad is already being stretched to its limits lost Kieron Dyer to a suspected hamstring strain just 20 minutes into the game. Dyer, making his first start since the Carling Cup game here in September (that also ended 3-1) has made just five starts in all since signing for United in a ??7.5million switch back in August 2007.

All in all there was very little to cheer yet again for Zola, although the performance of Scott Parker - who went close to scoring his first goal of the season on three occasions - was one highlight of yet another very disappointing evening.

The win for Bolton - only their second at home all season - lifts them above West Ham who drop to 19th in the table. Only Portsmouth stand between United and the foot of the table and with Chelsea due at the Boleyn this weekend, the situation doesn't look set to improve anytime soon.

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Player Ratings

Robert Green
Comments to follow.


Julien Faubert
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Herita Ilunga
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James Tomkins
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Danny Gabbidon
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Scott Parker
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Radoslav Kovac
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Kieron Dyer
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Jack Collison
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Alessandro Diamanti
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Guillermo Franco
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Substitutes

Junior Stanislas
(Replaced Dyer, 21 minutes) Comments to follow.


Manuel Da Costa
(Replaced Collison, 87 minutes) Comments to follow.


Peter Kurucz
Did not play.


Fabio Daprela
Did not play.


Jonathan Spector
Did not play.


Josh Payne
Did not play.


Frank Nouble
Did not play.



Match Facts

West Ham United: Robert Green, Julien Faubert, Herita Ilunga, James Tomkins, Danny Gabbidon, Scott Parker, Radoslav Kovac, Kieron Dyer, Jack Collison, Alessandro Diamanti, Guillermo Franco.

Goals: Alessandro Diamanti 69                  .

Booked: Guillermo Franco           .

Sent off: None.

Bolton: .

Subs not used: .

Goals: None.

Booked: .

Sent off: None.

Referee: Andre Marriner.

Attendance: 17,849.

Man of the Match: tbc.