West Ham have produced their best 45 minutes of the season to go into the break 3-0 up against European contenders Bolton.
Alan Curbishley's sides have simply destroyed their opponents - managed for the first time by Sammy Lee - and could have easily have led by more after producing an exhilirating first-half performance.As has been the case for most games since the beginning of April, today's was simply a 'must-win' if relegation was to be avoided; apparently unnerved, the Hammers set about this one with the same fervour and effort that had seen them win five of their previous seven fixtures.
Curbishley's side made much the better start, and the deserved breakthrough came on 10 minutes when Carlos Tevez - who else! - replicated his free-kick against Tottenham when he converted from 20 yards into the roof of Jussi Jaskeleinan's net having won the free-kick in the first place.
The diminutive Argentinian then doubled his tally for the day on 21 minutes when Luis Boa Morte - who was picked out wide on the flank by a lovely pass from Mark noble - crossed superbly for the oncoming Tevez to finish low into the left-hand corner.
The icing on the cake came in the 29th minute with the best goal of them all. Bobby Zamora stole the ball from the foot of a dithering Ivan Campo before finding Tevez wide on the left. Tevez, looking for the pass at all times, saw Noble arriving at the far post and picked out his young team mate with a delightful lob - which Noble volleyed forcefully into the back of the Bolton net.
United could have increased their lead even further ahead of the break as both Tevez and Zamora went close. Such was West Ham's domination it wouldn't have been undeserved.
We'll have more for you at the final whistle ...
*In the other important relegation fixtures, Wigan are 1-0 down at home to Middlesbrough (Viduka) at the break whilst Fulham and Liverpool are drawing 0-0. The live Premiership league table therefore has West Ham sitting pretty in 16th place ...
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