West Ham will have to change the course of history if they are going to avoid
relegation this season.
The Hammers will spend Christmas Day at the bottom of the Premiership, and no
team has ever survived from that position in the 10 years the competition has
been in existence.
West Ham were leading Bolton at Upton Park thanks to a well-taken goal
from stand-in striker Ian Pearce and appeared to be in control.
But that changed after 64 minutes when substitute Michael Ricketts stroked
home the equaliser from what looked to be an offside position, 10 minutes after
he had replaced Youri Djorkaeff.
With captain Paolo di Canio out until the new year and Freddie Kanoute still
not ready to return to the Hammers attack, Pearce was employed as an emergency
striker for the fourth successive game.
He delivered too when he struck after 16 minutes with a finish any striker
would have been proud of - to claim his second goal in three games.
Michael Carrick's pass was flicked on by Jermain Defoe, and Pearce got ahead
of the Bolton defence on the left edge of the box before carrying the ball a few
yards forward and drilling his shot past goalkeeper Jussi Jaaskelainen.
But things went pear-shaped for West Ham when Ricketts grabbed his equaliser.
Jay-Jay Okocha had his back to goal but showed good close control before
looping the ball over his head into the six-yard box. Ricketts looked to be a
yard offside as he pounced and stroked the ball past James. But there was no
flag, and the goal stood.
Both teams had looked a little nervous at the start before West Ham put
together the first decent move of the game in the sixth minute with some good
passing down the right - and when Sebastien Schemmel crossed for Defoe his
header was only just over the bar.
That lifted the home fans, and the Hammers followed it up in the next two
minutes with a looping shot from Michael Carrick - comfortably saved by
Jaaskelainen - and then a shot across the face of goal by Pearce, which went
wide.
Bolton's first shot at goal came from a 30-yard free-kick after 12 minutes,
but Per Frandsen's low drive was wide of David James' right post.
Any tension hanging in the air around Upton Park was lifted after 16 minutes
when Pearce showed a striker's instinct and fired West Ham into the lead.
It was the first time the Hammers had taken the lead at home since they
surrendered a 2-0 lead against Arsenal, and the big question was whether or not
they could go on and win at Upton Park for the first time this season.
They have not had much luck in recent weeks - but they enjoyed a huge slice
after 25 minutes when Bolton were denied an equaliser by the post.
Henrik Pedersen had his back to goal on the six-yard line but managed to turn
and send in a shot which had James beaten. However, the ball struck the far post
and bounced away from goal.
Bolton produced a clever free-kick after 31 minutes which needed a good save
from James to keep West Ham's lead intact.
Djorkaeff tricked everyone by playing a square pass to Frandsen, who hit a
fierce shot from 25 yards. But James blocked the effort, and Dailly completed
the clearance.
West Ham won a free-kick after 54 minutes when Schemmel was taken out by
Anthony Barness on the right flank, just a yard from the by-line, for which the
Bolton man was booked.
Bolton boss Sam Allardyce knew his team needed a cutting edge up front - and
Ricketts, who had been out of action with a groin strain, replaced Djorkaeff
before the free-kick was taken.
West Ham went for the killer goal, and it almost arrived after 63 minutes when
Sinclair was foiled by a great saving tackle from Ricardo Gardner as he prepared
to shoot. The resulting corner was played short to Carrick, and his blistering
shot was beaten away.
West Ham were hauled back by Rickets but still had a final golden opportunity
to win the game with two minutes remaining.
Lomas crossed from the right, but Sinclair sent a free header wide of the near
post.
Tomas Repka had to be pulled away from the referee's assistant at the final
whistle, and his team-mates again left their home pitch feeling deflated.
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