Glenn Roeder's first season in charge has brought many changes at West Ham, and one of the many positives has been the resurgence of club captain Steve Lomas.

After twice battling back from injury, the Northern Ireland international midfielder has been playing like a man with a new lease of life in recent weeks, and has even started scoring goals.

After 43 minutes at Upton Park he claimed his fourth in 14 Premiership appearances this season, and second in successive home matches, to give the Hammers an important lead.

Bolton hit back after 67 minutes when Youri Djorkaeff's 20-yard free kick was deflected past David James.

But Ian Pearce popped up with the dramatic winner two minutes from the end when he headed home Michael Carrick's corner.

That enabled Roeder's men to climb above London rivals Tottenham, who lost 2-1 at Leicester, and claim seventh place in the League.

Ironically it was Pearce who scored a late equaliser at Tottenham a few weeks ago, his only other goal this season, so he will no doubt be popular with Hammers fans.

Seventh place is a superb achievement for the likeable former England defender Roeder, who was not expected to last the season in charge.

It was a typical end of season affair and surprisingly it was the visitors who played the more fluid football in the opening 10 minutes as they looked anything but a team who had only recently guaranteed their Premiership status for next season.

West Ham slowly got into their stride and there was a flashpoint after 14 minutes when Michael Carrick found Jermain Defoe in the Bolton box with a fantastic long pass.

The England Under-21 striker fell under the challenge of Gudni Bergsson, but appeals for a penalty were ignored and a goal-kick was given.

Joe Cole may be celebrating his inclusion in England's World Cup squad, and meeting the Queen on Thursday when she opened the new stand here, but he was in referee Mike Dean's bad books after 19 minutes.

He conceded a free-kick with a body-check on Per Frandsen and then kicked the ball away in disgust, and was promptly booked for dissent.

The decision seemed to spark West Ham into life, and they were only denied an opening goal after 22 minutes by Bolton goalkeeper Jussi Jaaskelainen.

Carrick was given too much time on the left edge of the box and he whipped in a fierce low shot which Jaaskelainen brilliantly tipped round his near post.

West Ham produced a magical moment after half an hour when Cole showed nimble feet on the right flank before feeding Defoe in the box. He turned superbly but let himself down by firing wide of the near post.

At least referee Dean was consistent. After 34 minutes West Ham won a free-kick for a foul on Lomas, and Gareth Farrelly was booked for kicking the ball away, just like Cole.

Trevor Sinclair was showing no signs of disappointment at missing out on a place in the England squad and did very well down the left after 37 minutes to beat his man and plant a cross on Kanoute's head. But the big Frenchman failed to get his effort on target.

West Ham made the breakthrough they just about deserved two minutes before the break, and it was Lomas with the goal.

Defoe's fierce shot from just inside the left edge of the Bolton box was superbly saved by Jaaskelainen, but the ball fell at the feet of Lomas who was in the right place at the right time to stroke it into an empty net from three yards.

It was rough luck on Jaaskelainen, who made at least three world class saves during the game, but that didn't stop the West Ham celebrations as the interval arrived.

Bolton made two changes at the break, with Michael Ricketts and Stig Tofting perhaps feeling their recent injuries as they were replaced by Dean Holdsworth and Kevin Nolan.

Holdsworth was looking for the 50th goal of his Bolton career, although he was facing the defence who had conceded the fewest home goals in the Premiership, just 13 all season before Saturday.

Jaaskelainen again came to Bolton's rescue with a good save to keep out Kanoute's shot after 54 minutes. Within seconds he was beaten by a fierce drive from Cole, but this time he was saved as the ball came back off his near post.

Holdsworth almost got the goal he wanted after 58 minutes, but his 20-yard shot was superbly tipped over by England goalkeeper David James, who was having an otherwise quiet game.

Kanoute was left wondering how he did not score after 65 minutes as his first effort was saved, his follow-up header came back off the bar, and then he headed the ball on to the roof of the goal.

West Ham were stunned when Bolton grabbed an equaliser, slightly against the run of play.

Djorkaeff struck a 20-yard free kick which took a deflection, and although James got a hand to it, the ball crept inside the far post.

Kanoute and Cole had chances to win it before Pearce's dramatic late goal, combined with the news from Filbert Street, sparked scenes of great celebration.

Teams:

West Ham: James, Pearce, Repka, Dailly, Winterburn, Sinclair, Carrick (Moncur 90), Cole, Lomas, Defoe, Kanoute (Garcia 90).

Subs Not Used: Hislop, Labant, Potts.

Booked: Cole, Repka.

Goals: Lomas 45, Pearce 89.

Bolton: Jaaskelainen, Barness, Charlton, Bergsson, Frandsen, Djorkaeff, Konstantinidis (Smith 59), Farrelly, Bobic, Tofting (Nolan 45), Ricketts (Holdsworth 45).

Subs Not Used: Poole, Wallace.

Booked: Farrelly.

Goals: Djorkaeff 67.

Att: 35,546

Ref: M Dean (The Wirral).