West Ham took the lead after only seven minutes when makeshift striker Ian Pearce headed past Jussi Jaaskelainen to reward early pressure from the Hammers.

Bolton started to come back into the game and were very unlucky not to equalise when first Henrik Pedersen hit the inside of the post and then a neatly worked free kick ended in Hammers’ England goalkeeper David James expertly tipping away Per Frandsen’s pile driver. Nigerian magician Jay Jay Okocha then forced another good save from former Liverpool ‘keeper James as Bolton tried to attack more but still couldn’t hit the net and the Wanderers looked shaky as the Londoners attacked swiftly on the break with young striker Jermaine Defoe going close on several occasions. Despite all the chances, West Ham still lead by one goal to nil at half time.

As the second half began to take shape Defoe again went close on a few occasions, putting a couple of shots wide and forcing saves from Finnish international goalkeeper Jaaskelainen in the Wanderers goal.

Former QPR and Blackpool winger Trevor Sinclair had a chance for West Ham but a superb tackle from Jamaican winger Ricardo Gardner thwarted him. From the resulting corner, Hammers youngster Michael Carrick forced a magnificent save from Jaaskelainen.

Barely a minute later Bolton equalised when England striker Michael Ricketts scored his first goal from open play since February. Ricketts was put clean through to be put one on one with David James and survived the West Ham offside shouts to put the ball in to the back of the net.

Smart build up play between Ricketts and Okocha resulted in Ricketts having a chance but James denied the former Walsall striker his second goal of the afternoon.

Defoe had a golden opportunity with barely five minutes left to win it for West Ham but he headed wide a pinpoint cross from former Manchester City midfielder Steve Lomas.

Okocha had a half chance in the last minute of time added on when he dribbled past several West Ham players but Czech defender Tomas Repka blocked his attempted shot.

The final whistle at Upton Park was greeted with rounds of boo’s and jeers from the West Ham faithful which can only be encouraging from a Bolton point of view. The result means West Ham are bottom of the league at Christmas…a position from which not a single team has survived relegation throughout the ten year history of the Premier League. This should give Bolton a big confidence boost ahead of their Boxing Day showdown with Newcastle United.

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