Bolton Wanderers v West Ham United: half-time report

  • by Matthew O'Greel
  • Saturday, 9th December 2006

West Ham go into the break a goal behind in this evening's Premiership clash at The Reebok Stadium.

Kevin Davis' 17th minute strike was enough to give the home side a slender lead at half-time in a game featuring two teams clearly bereft of form.

Bolton went into the game having taken just four points from their last 21, whilst United are without a win away from homes all season - and without a goal since Bobby Zamora's opener in the 2-1 defeat against Liverpool back in August.

Alan Pardew changed the formation - but not, as had been expected, the personnel - and went into the game with a five man midfield, anchored by the returning Christian Dailly.

Anton Ferdinand - injured in Wednesday's 2-0 defeat at home to Wigan - was replaced by George McCartney in the centre of defence, whilst Marlon Harewood was preferred to Bobby Zamora for the lone striker role.

Bolton began the half on top as West Ham sat back, apparently happy to soak up any pressure. But with little more than a quarter-of-an-hour on the clock those plans went out of the window as the home side capitalised on some poor United defending.

Nicolas Anelka floated a cross to the far post where Gary Speed beat Jonathan Spector rather too easily to head the ball back across goal. Diouf centred the ball from the opposing far post and Kevin Davis - who appeared to lose marker George McCartney by shoving him to the floor moments earlier right in front of referee Howard Webb - volleyed the ball into an empty net.

Worse could have followed for Pardew's side on 27 minutes when Rob Green was forced into a smart save when left one-on-one with Anelka just yards from goal. Another scare followed five minutes from the break when Diouf nodded over a free header from just six yards out after McCartney misjudged a cross.

Despite enjoying 52% of first-half possession United's only effort on goal came two minutes from half-time when Carlos Tevez's scuffed shot from the edge of box rolled through to Jussi Jaskeleinan.

The Hammers have now played more than eleven hours of football away from home without a goal.

West Ham United: Green, Spector, McCartney, Dailly, Collins, Konchesky; Tevez, Reo-Coker, Mullins, Etherington; Harewood.

Subs: Carroll, Paintsil, Benayoun, Sheringham, Zamora.

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