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Green blunders see Hammers beaten by Bolton

05/10/2008

Two howlers from goalkeeper Robert Green saw West Ham United lose 3-1 to Bolton Wanderers at Upton Park.

Hammers boss Gianfranco Zola suffered his first league defeat after first-half goals from Kevin Davies and Gary Cahill.

Carlton Cole reduced the deficit but Bolton sealed victory with a stunning free-kick from Matt Taylor.

The result means Zola's men stay in fifth spot while the Trotters climb to 15th place.

West Ham made a bright start with Cole bending a shot from 22 yards wide, while David di Michele lashed a left-foot shot agonizingly wide.

But against the run of play the visitors grabbed the lead after a calamitous blunder by Green, who spilled a long ball which allowed Davies to poke the ball into the empty net on the half-hour mark.

Four minutes later, Green was picking the ball out of his net again after he could only parry Gretar Steinsson's volley straight to Cahill who tapped in to make it 2-0.

The Hammers tried desperately to get a goal back in the closing minutes of the half and their best chance fell to Matthew Upson who headed over from a corner.

Zola's men cranked up the tempo in the second half with Cole forcing Jussi Jaaskelainen into a fine save with a strike from 20 yards.

But the home side's cavalier approach allowed Bolton space on the break with Gavin McCann firing a shot from 30 yards inches wide while Johan Elmander volleyed over after Green's rushed clearance.

West Ham set-up a grandstand finish on 69 minutes when Upson flicked on a corner for Cole to nod in his fourth goal of the season.

But the Hammers created few chances to grab an equaliser and the Trotters clinched their first away win of the season on 86 minutes when Taylor thumped in a free-kick from 35 yards into the top-corner.