22.09.2009
Carling Cup third round
Bolton Wanderers v West Ham United
Reebok Stadium
Tuesday 22 September 2009
8pm
Referee: Howard Webb
Final-score - Bolton Wanderers 3-1 West Ham United
122 min - Referee Webb blows the full-time whistle and West Ham's Carling
Cup dreams are over for another year.
120 min - One minute of added-time will be played. Samuel receives some
treatment for what looks like a facial injury.
119 min - GOAL! There will be no penalties tonight. Bolton score a third
through Elmander, who slides in to finish the job from close-range from
Lee's cross.
118 min - Dreadful effort from Elmander, who wins a header and then slices a
volley miles wide.
117 min - West Ham are making a late fist of this. Diamanti turns and gets
into the penalty area, but his cross is too close to Jaaskelainen and the
goalkeeper clutches the ball in front of his face.
115 min - Cole does superbly to hold off Knight and rolls the ball out wide
to Faubert. Unfortunately, the Frenchman doesn't replicate his colleague's
skill and the ball flies out for a goal kick.
114 min - Bolton come close to a third. Taylor feeds Elmander, but the
Swede's shot clears the crossbar, but not by much.
113 min - It's all over at Scunthorpe. A fine night for Jordan Spence, who
completed all 120 minutes in a 2-0 win over Port Vale.
111 min - Tomkins' long ball forward finds Spector. The right-back's initial
effort is blocked but the ball falls to Diamanti, who takes a touch and
curls a shot in that clips the top of the crossbar on the way over the top.
Very, very close to an equaliser.
110 min - Ten minutes to go. West Ham create a crossing chance down the
right, Faubert launches the ball into the danger zone and it finds Ilunga,
but his low cross is blocked.
108 min - A long throw is controlled by Davies into the path of Elmander,
but the Swede's shot is straight at Green.
107 min - Bolton win another corner. Elmander fires the ball into N'Gala's
shins. Taylor takes and Ilunga heads clear.
106 min - Cole and Parker kick-off... West Ham go on the offensive straight
away. Faubert whips in a cross from the right that is just in front of Cole
and Bolton clear.
West Ham's players take on some liquids ahead of the final stages of this
tie. Can they score the goal they need to force penalties?
Half-time in extra time - Bolton Wanderers 2-1 West Ham United
106 min - The opening period of extra time is nearly over. West Ham have 15
minutes to keep their Carling Cup hopes alive, but first Faubert wins a
free-kick down the left. Diamanti over-hits the free-kick and Webb blows for
half-time.
103 min - Green hits a long clearance that Cole controls. The England man
turns, but his shot from 25 yards is never threatening the goal.
102 min - Bolton come close to a third. Decent work down the right from
Ricketts and Cohen before the ball is worked back to Knight, who mis-hits
his cross and Green has to help the ball over.
98 min - Diamanti lets fly from an angle, but his shot is always too high
and lands in the crowd.
96 min - GOAL! West Ham fail to clear another Bolton corner and the ball
drops to Cahill on the edge of the penalty area. The defender lashes a
half-volley that flies past Green's dive into the corner. Zola's side have
it all to do now.
95 min - At Scunthorpe, they are also into extra time, with the hosts
scoring twice in the first five minutes to go 2-0 up against Port Vale. It
appears Jordan Spence is going to the last-16.
94 min - After 94 minutes, plus stoppages, Parker is the first player to be
booked for a foul on Cohen 30 yards from goal. Taylor, who else, is going to
take it... and he hits the base of the post with Green beaten!
92 min - Faubert, who has spent the start of the new season at right-back,
is playing on the right of the front three, with Diamanti on the left.
Bolton win another right-wing corner, their 18th! Taylor takes and the ball
bounces up on to the chest of Davies at the back post, and Spector is on
hand to head off the line.
91 min - And off we go again for a third time...
Gianfranco Zola and Steve Clarke are giving Tomkins and N'Gala some
last-second instructions before the two sets of players take to the field
again for an extra 30 minutes. Parker and Davies go for another chat with
Webb. It looks like Bolton are going to kick-off...
Full-time - Bolton Wanderers 1-1 West Ham United
95 min - The final whistle goes. We're in for another half-an-hour, at
least. Looks like we'll be accompanying the long-distance lorry drivers down
the M6 later...much later!
94 min - Long clearance from Green bounces through to Jaaskelainen, but Cole
gets in and tackles the goalkeeper. The ball squirts along the 18-yard line,
and Cole gets there first as the Finn tries to recover. Instead of shooting,
the striker tries to pass to Noble, but the ball hits a defender and is
cleared for a corner. Noble takes and the ball drops to Faubert, whose low
drive hits a leg just as it appears it will roll to Cole a yard from goal...
93 min - N'Gala romps down the right and finds Noble. West Ham play some
neat football, but, unfortunately, Faubert is unable to find Kovac inside
the penalty area and the ball goes out for a goal kick.
91 min - Bolton break clear from their own penalty area and, for a moment,
look to have five-on-three. Tomkins races back and wins a challenge that was
immensely important. Fine work from the England Under-21 man.
90 min - Good play from Parker finds Ilunga. He passes to Noble, who finds
Diamanti. The Italian wins a corner. We're in the final minute of the 90...
We're going to have four added minutes, at least.
89 min - Davies goes up again to try and get on the end of Cohen's cross,
but Tomkins does enough to put the striker off and his header flies over the
top.
88 min - A third and final change for West Ham. Julien Faubert is on for
Hines.
87 min - West Ham nearly hit back immediately. Cole's shot is blocked and
the ball falls to Noble, whose low strike is gathered by Jaaskelainen. It
looks like we are heading for extra time...
86 min - GOAL! Go on, have a guess at what has just happened! Yes, Bolton
win another corner off Ilunga. Taylor crosses and Davies heads into the
bottom corner to level the scores.
85 min - Elmander's shot hits Tomkins and bounces out for another corner.
Will it be a case of unlucky 13 for West Ham? No. Taylor overhits his
delivery and Cahill belts the ball out for a throw-in.
84 min - Bolton have another corner, their 12th, and Green again claims.
82 min - The seconds on the big screen seem to be clicking down a lot slower
since West Ham took the lead! Bolton bring on Tamir Cohen, their joint top
scorer with two goals, for McCann.
79 min - Diamanti picks the ball up wide on the right and fires it towards
Hines in the box. The forward takes a touch and goes down near to Cahill. No
appeals for a penalty though, and Bolton clear.
78 min - Taylor whips in ANOTHER corner and Green claims high above his
head. The West Ham goalkeeper is going to have a sore neck tonight.
77 min - That's it for the former Werder Bremen man, who is replaced by
Johan Elmander. Bolton have a long throw that Kovac heads clear. Taylor
picks up the ball and his shot deflects wide off Tomkins for a corner.
Taylor takes - he must be knackered! Green claws the ball away. McCann
crosses and Ilunga heads out. Taylor takes the corner and Cole heads behind
at the near post.
76 min - Klasnic swings a boot at a bouncing ball 20 yards out, but Green
gathers with ridiculous ease.
75 min - A second change for the Hammers. Carlton Cole is on for Dyer, who
enjoyed a decent night.
74 min - The big screen in the corner to my left tells me there are 16
minutes and 43 seconds remaining. Should West Ham win, they could join
loanee Jordan Spence in the fourth-round. Spence's Scunthorpe are currently
drawing 0-0 at home with Port Vale. They must nearly be in extra time at
Glanford Park.
71 min - Robert Green is up on his feet again after receiving some running
repairs following a challenge from Klasnic. The goalkeeper had been trying
to clear a slightly short backpass when he was caught by the forward, but he
seems to be okay.
69 min - Bolton bring on their South Korean import Chung-Yong Lee for
Gardner.
68 min - Anything you can do.... Diamanti gives us another reminder of his
left-foot prowess with a dipping strike from 25 yards that just clears the
crossbar.
67 min - Ooooh! Bolton come close. West Ham were enjoying a decent spell of
possession before Cahill cleared the ball and the home side broke. Davies
was given time to measure up his shot from 20-plus yards, but his effort
flies off-target.
65 min - A bit of N'Gala trivia for you. Bondz is the reserve-team captain
and a powerful central defender. He was born in Forest Gate and has
graduated from the club's Academy. N'Gala enjoyed a loan spell at MK Dons
last season and has already scored a wonder-goal for the reserves in a 6-0
win over Birmingham City this term.
63 min - Big defender Bondz N'Gala is about to come on for his first-team
debut. Indeed, he is now taking to the field, replacing fellow debutant Da
Costa.
61 min - Bolton have come back strongly, as you might expect, since going
behind. Taylor curls in a free-kick, but Davies cannot get his head to the
ball and it goes out for a goal kick.
60 min - That is the DR Congo defender's third goal for the Hammers. All of
them have come in the knockout competitions and all from set pieces. Ilunga
hit the target against Barnsley and Middlesbrough in last season's FA Cup.
59 min - GOAL! West Ham lead! Diamanti's corner is, to be honest, pretty
dire, but it bounces low into the six-yard box and Taylor completely misses
his kick, allowing Ilunga to stab home at the far post.
58 min - Diamanti hits a Bolton defender with his set piece, but it
ricochets to a West Ham boot. Tomkins finds Ilunga, who crosses and Gardner
heads out for a corner.
57 min - Brilliant play from Hines, who wins a tackle in midfield and finds
Diamanti, who is fouled by Knight. Diamanti gets up and takes the resulting
free-kick...
56 min - Alert defensive play from Spector as he nips in to clear the ball
out for another corner. Taylor takes and Ilunga volleys clear.
55 min - The visitors put together their best move of the second half so
far, but Spector's cross is behind Hines and easily cleared by the hosts.
54 min - Gardner crosses low and Davies attempts to turn, but he slips on
the ball and it rolls out for a goal kick. Nouble, Edgar and Payne are out
on the touchline warming up in bright yellow bibs.
51 min - I think it would be safe to say that the second half has not
started like the first. Bolton are on the front foot and only super
goalkeeping from Green, who scoops Taylor's cross away, prevents Klasnic
from heading in at the far post. Bolton's tenth corner is claimed by Green
above his head.
47 min - The Glasgow Irons have also made the long trip down from Scotland
for tonight's game. They see Klasnic force Green into tipping the ball over
for yet another Bolton corner. Taylor crosses the umpteenth time and Green
claims well. We have had 15 corners so far, Bolton nine and West Ham six.
46 min - Gardner and Davies kick-off the second half.
Latest score - Bolton 0-0 West Ham United
Much like the pies et al, the half-time mushroom soup was also decent. Here
come the two sets of players...
46 min - Howard Webb blows the half-time whistle after one added minute and
the two sets of players head off.
45 min - We're almost at the halfway mark, and we're going to have a minimum
of one added minute. West Ham get the ball forward again and Diamanti lets
fly from 30 yards, but it goes harmlessly over the top. Cole, Nouble and
Edgar have just been warming up on the touchline. At least one of them is
likely to be called upon after the break, I would venture.
44 min - Taylor takes, the ball hits the wall and Green cranes his neck to
watch it loop out for another corner. Taylor trots across and whips the ball
in again, it is flicked on at the near post and Gardner shanks his shot
miles over the top.
43 min - Ilunga cuts out a Klasnic cross and Bolton have another corner.
Davies hooks the ball out to Gardner, who is brought down by Kovac 25 yards
out. Matt Taylor will be keen on this one...
40 min - Five minutes to go until the break. Quite how this game is still
goalless is beyond me. It has been thoroughly entertaining stuff.
37 min - Oooh! So close for Hines, who takes Dyer's reverse pass and cuts
inside, only to see his shot deflected wide by a lunging Cahill. From the
corner, Bolton half-clear and the ball is worked out wide left to Diamanti.
The Italian's cross is wicked, but just a yard in front of Da Costa.
36 min - Bolton have been forced to change their formation slightly
following West Ham's strong start. McCann is playing slightly further
forward to close down the space that was being used so well early on by
Noble and Parker.
35 min - After a period of inactivity, Spector wakes Jaaskelainen up with a
cross-shot that the goalkeeper can only help out for a corner. Diamanti
receives the ball short, but his shot is charged down.
30 min - Decent defending from Diamanti, who robs Gardner and is then fouled
by the Jamaica international. Half an hour in and West Ham are holding their
own against a near first-choice Bolton lineup. The Trotters win another
corner, which Spector nods clear.
29 min - Superb save from Green to deny Klasnic. The goalkeeper tips a
curling shot out for another corner. Taylor crosses and Davies heads
downwards, but the ball skips into the arms of the goalkeeper.
27 min - Da Costa will be counting his blessings there. Davies robbed the
defender just outside the penalty area before cutting the ball to Klasnic,
who somehow failed to put the ball into the net from about three yards. The
Croat will not be happy when he sees that on Sky Sports News later on.
24 min - To my right, the two sets of fans are engaging in some verbal
jousting.
23 min - Finally, after a quarter of tonight's tie, the game appears to be
settling down. Oh, no, maybe it isn't! Hines finds Dyer, who is challenged
by McCann. The ball squirts towards goal, where Jaaskelainen is able to
control on his chest before one of his defenders completes the clearance.
Smart goalkeeping.
22 min - West Ham are playing some nice stuff here. They break up another
Bolton raid and Kovac threads a neat ball through to a rampaging Noble, but
the midfielder can only drag his shot wide from 25 yards.
20 min - Good football from Diamanti and Noble sees Spector win a corner
down the right. West Ham work it short and keep possession on the edge of
the penalty area before Parker's pass goes out for a goal kick. Shame.
18 min - Just to clarify something I said earlier. Zavon Hines is
Jamaican-born, but has a British passport. Did you hear that Sr Capello?
16 min - Da Costa commits his first foul as a West Ham player, bringing down
Davies. Taylor's free-kick looks poor until Davies reaches it on the by-line
and cuts the ball into the six-yard box, where Ilunga completes the
clearance.
14 min - Will this game ever settle down? Diamanti skips around a challenge
and feeds Hines. The Jamaican has only Jaaskelainen to beat, but the Finn
blocks his shot behind for a corner. Diamanti takes, but curls his cross
straight into the side-netting. Disappointing, but at least it gives me a
chance to draw breath!
13 min - Close again for Bolton. Taylor takes an in-swinging corner from the
right and Cahill gets a head on it, but the ball flies wide of the far post.
12 min - Davies wins a free-kick following a Parker challenge 35 yards from
Green's goal. Taylor plays it short to Ricketts, who crosses. Knight rises
highest and heads downwards, only for Green to dive full-length and push the
ball around the post. McCann crosses and Green punches clear, but Ilunga can
only head out for another Bolton corner.
11 min - Bolton threaten again down the left. Samuel crosses low and, after
a bit of pinball, Da Costa smashes the bouncing ball upfield. In truth,
Bolton did not have a single body in the penalty area bar Klasnic.
10 min - West Ham have started well here. The man in the suit will be very
impressed with the way his side are passing the ball on what looks like a
lush, decent playing surface.
9 min - West Ham have a free-kick 30 yards from goal. It's not a great angle
for Diamanti, but he fancies it. Noble strikes instead, but the low shot
hits the wall.
8 min - Bolton have a corner. Ricketts forces the ball out off a sliding
Ilunga. Taylor crosses and Tomkins heads clear at the far post.
7 min - Another minute and another scoring chance! This time Hines breaks
free down the left and cuts the ball into to Diamanti, who scuffs his shot.
It rebounds to Kovac, who is flagged offside.
6 min - Another shooting chance, this time for Bolton. A measured build-up
ends with Taylor firing a rising effort over from 25 yards. I suppose it had
to be rising if it went over the crossbar?
5 min - West Ham are leaving three players forward for every Bolton set
piece. Surely a deliberate tactic as the Trotters love to throw men forward
for corners, free-kicks and even throw-ins.
3 min - My keyboard is nearly on fire here...
2 min - Diamanti picks the ball up after Bolton only half-clear the corner,
but Jaaskelainen pushes his shot aside. Hines picks up the loose ball and
finds Noble, who drills another shot at goal, which the goalkeeper scrambles
wide for another corner. Bolton again only half-clear, allowing Parker to
smash a half-volley inches wide.
1 min - Hines and Diamanti get us underway, but it is Bolton who are first
to threaten, winning a corner off debutant Da Costa. Taylor and McCann stand
over the set piece. Herita Ilunga makes a superb block to deny Kevin Davies.
West Ham break straight up the other end and have four men to Bolton's
three. Parker finds Dyer, but his shot is deflected just wide.
8pm - Referee Howard Webb calls the captains, Kevin Davies and Scott Parker,
together for the pre-match photos and other bits and bobs. The 900-or-so
West Ham fans who have made the long trip north are making a decent amount
of noise behind the goal to my right.
7.58pm - West Ham are wearing there change strip of dark blue tonight. It is
the first time the away kit has been out of the chests so far this term.
7.57pm - Lofty the Lion is on the pitch trying to whip the home fans up into
a frenzy, but he's got a bit of a job on his paws. Here come the two
teams...
7.52pm - The away fans are singing 'Bubbles' for all they are worth. The
home fans are not singing at all...yet. Three of the four upper tiers are
closed for tonight's game, which is a bit disappointing. Portsmouth are
already losing to Carlisle United, which will make the 700-mile round-trip
for the Pompey fans seem even longer. The poor souls haven't had much to
cheer about so far this season, bar a second-round win over Hereford United.
7.48pm - The midfielders and forwards are having a spot of shooting
practice. Diamanti has just drilled a left-foot volley past Kurucz, followed
by a cheeky chip from Frank Nouble. Elsewhere, Manuel Da Costa and James
Tomkins are doing some heading drills with Keen.
7.45pm - Considering there are only 15 minutes to go until kick-off, the
stadium is not exactly full to bursting. Estimates of a crowd in the region
of 10,000 have been whispered. We shall see... Danny Gabbidon, by the way,
has a slight calf injury, but is expected to be fine for next Monday's game.
7.42pm - The manager is out on the touchline to watch his team warming up.
Mr Zola has a suit on again. I don't know what has prompted his change in
wardrobe choice, but the Italian master certainly cuts a smooth figure in
his new threads. Robert Green is the first Hammer to head back to the away
dressing room, while substitute Peter Kurucz is still in deep discussion
with coach Jerome John. Ludek Miklosko is still recovering from a back
injury suffered during the pre-season. It remains to be seen whether 'Ludo'
will be fit for next Monday's trip to Manchester City.
7.40pm - Kevin Keen is running through a keep-ball session in the middle of
the pitch. Keen loves these drills as means of keeping the players sharp in
the lead-up to kick-off. It is five-on-five in a tight area, with Julien
Faubert floating between the two sides in an orange vest. Well, he's not
literally floating, but running about...
7.35pm - New signing Guille Franco and Fabio Daprela are both going through
some drills on the pitch away. Both were named in the 20-man squad for
tonight's game. Franco enjoyed his first full training session on Sunday,
but tonight's game has come a little too soon for him. With a full week's
training behind him, it is hoped the striker will be involved at Eastlands
next Monday evening.
7.32pm - The three mascots are having a kickaround near the tunnel. Connor
Booth, who is 12, is West Ham's representative tonight. I can report that
Connor's favourite players are Robert Green and Mark Noble, while his
hobbies are football, naturally, and motorcross!
7.25pm - Bolton take to the pitch, cheered on by the few fans who have taken
their seats early. I think it would be safe to assume that we're not going
to see a full Reebok Stadium tonight. And here come the Hammers. Alessandro
Diamanti, wearing boots with lime-green soles, gives the travelling
supporters a clap.
7.20pm - Having safely taken my seat in the stand, I can report that the
Tilbury Hammers have done likewise. Good on them. They, unlike your intrepid
press team, may have travelled up along the M62, M60 and M61. Having heard
some negative travel news on Radio Two, we decided to take a detour through
the towns of east Lancashire, only to see the supporters coaches we had
overtaken earlier on the M6 beat us to the ground!
7.15pm - Welcome to the Reebok Stadium for tonight's Carling Cup third-round
tie. It's getting dark and gloomy here in Lancashire as summer threatens to
turn to autumn. I can report that the pre-match pie, chips, onion gravy and
mushy peas were of superb quality. The team would have been much more
sensible, feasting on spaghetti, chicken and other carbohydrate-dominated
foodstuffs earlier this afternoon.
Gianfranco Zola has made four changes to his West Ham United side for
Tuesday night's Carling Cup third-round visit to Bolton Wanderers.
United States right-back Jonathan Spector is in for the rested Julien
Faubert and former Portugal Under-21 defender Manuel Da Costa replaces
Matthew Upson at the heart of the back-four. Valon Behrami is still
recovering from the slight leg injury he suffered against Liverpool on
Saturday, with Radoslav Kovac taking his place. Carlton Cole drops to the
bench, with his starting place taken by Kieron Dyer.
Forwards Alessandro Diamanti and Zavon Hines keep their places after
impressing against Liverpool. Guille Franco, meanwhile, trained with the
squad for the first time on Sunday and will hope for his debut at Manchester
City on Monday after completing his free transfer signing following the
expiry of his contract at Villarreal CF.
Twice runners-up West Ham are seeking to reach the fourth round for the
second time in three seasons, but will need to win at the Reebok Stadium for
the first time if they are to do so. The Hammers have drawn twice and lost
six times - including a League Cup third-round defeat in October 2005.
Bolton Wanderers: Jaaskelainen, Ricketts, Cahill, Knight, Samuel, Taylor,
Muamba, McCann (Cohen 82), Gardner (Lee 69), K.Davies, Klasnic (Elmander 77)
Subs: Al Habsi, Steinsson, A.O'Brien, Davies
West Ham United: Green, Spector, Tomkins, Da Costa (N'Gala 63), Ilunga,
Noble, Parker, Kovac, Dyer (Cole 75), Diamanti, Hines (Faubert 88)
Subs: Kurucz, Payne, Edgar, Nouble
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Hammers knocked out
WHUFC.com
West Ham United saw their Carling Cup hopes dashed with an extra-time defeat
at Bolton Wanderers
22.09.2009
Bolton Wanderers ended West Ham United's Carling Cup hopes for the season
with a 3-1 third-round win at the Reebok Stadium.
After a series of decent chances at both ends in the opening 45 minutes,
Herita Ilunga gave the Hammers the lead from an Alessandro Diamanti corner
just before the hour mark. It looked as though it would be enough to see the
visitors progress until Kevin Davies headed an equaliser with four minutes
left of normal time. Gary Cahill then struck a killer second on 96 minutes
when he beat Robert Green from the edge of the area.
In the build up to the match both managers had promised to name strong sides
and they were true to their words.
Gianfranco Zola made four changes to the side that faced Liverpool on
Saturday. In defence, Jonathan Spector and Manuel Da Costa, in for his
first-team debut, took the place of Julien Faubert, who dropped to the
bench, and Matthew Upson, who had yet to recover from the minor calf injury
picked up at the weekend. Further forward, Kieron Dyer came in to midfield
to make his second start of the season, where he was joined by Radoslav
Kovac. Guillermo Franco travelled with the squad but was not quite ready for
the game after only training with his new team-mates for the first time on
Sunday.
West Ham United went into the game hoping to avoid a repeat of the 1-0
defeat that saw them knocked out of the competition at the same venue and
stage in October 2005. And after clearing an early corner, for which they
left three players upfield for, they soon showed how they planned to avoid
the same fate with a swift counter attack that left four on three in their
favour. Scott Parker's through-ball played in Dyer and his shot was
deflected inches wide.
The resulting corner led to a crazy few minutes as shot after shot rained in
on Jussi Jaaskelainen's goal. First, Diamanti stung the hands of the Finnish
international with a bouncing effort from the right and Noble followed suit
after being teed up by Zavon Hines. Finally, Parker skimmed the woodwork
with a rasping effort from the edge of the area as the Zola's side started
strongly.
Bolton hit back, though, and Robert Green was forced to demonstrate why he
is currently Fabio Capello's No1 with a smart save from a Zat Knight header.
Saturday's encounter with Liverpool proved to be a corker and this game
showed signs of following suit as a Diamanti through-ball sent Hines in
one-on-one with Jaaskelainen. But, once again, the Bolton No22 was there to
thwart the visitors with a smart save to deny the forward his second goal in
this season's competition.
West Ham had a real let-off in the 27th minute when Croatia international
striker Ivan Klasnic mis-kicked when just three yards from goal and, minutes
later, the 29-year-old was denied once more by the superb fingertip save by
Green.
West Ham took the lead from a corner after Ricardo Gardner was forced to
head behind an Ilunga cross. Diamanti's flag-kick was drilled along the
floor, Matthew Taylor completely missed his clearance and Ilunga was on hand
to stab the ball home to send the 1,000-or-so travelling support into
ecstasy.
Zola handed out his second debut of the evening when reserve-team captain
Bondz N'Gala came on for Da Costa, who had dealt with the physical threat of
Davies admirably. N'Gala's arrival added to the Academy spine with both
central defenders, a central midfielder and striker all nurtured on the
pitches of Little Heath.
A couple of long-rangers followed at either end with Davies going close and
Diamanti following suit for the visitors. Then, in a flurry of
substitutions, Bolton changed Chung-Yong Lee, Johan Elmander and Tamir Cohen
for Ricardo Gardner, Klasnic and Gavin McCann. West Ham made their second
change by swapping Dyer for Carlton Cole after a lively 75 minutes from the
winger.
Bolton continued to press forward but the Hammers stood strong and looked to
have done enough to progress to the fourth round until Davies met Taylor's
corner to head past Green with just four minutes remaining.
West Ham's final throw of the dice saw Faubert replace the lively Hines with
two minutes left. There was still time for Cole have a great chance to send
his side through when he dispossessed Jaaskenainen, but chose to pass when
the shot appeared to be the better option.
The first action of note in extra-time saw Parker pick up a booking for a
foul on Cohen 25 yards from goal. The Israel international stepped up to
smash the resulting free-kick against the base of Green's right-hand post.
The home support did not have to wait long for their side to take the lead,
though, as six minutes into extra-time, Cahill smashed an unstoppable
half-volley past Green from the edge of the area. Fabrice Muamba nearly put
the game out of reach with a 30-yard chip, which Green did well to palm
over.
West Ham pushed with everything they had and came within a lick of paint of
forcing penalties when Diamanti's superb curling effort clipped the Bolton
crossbar on the way over early in the second extra period.
However, the final nail in the visitors' Carling-Cup coffin came when
Elmander slid home Lee's centre with just one minute left on the clock to
book Bolton's place in Saturday's fourth-round draw.
West Ham United return to Barclays Premier League action with a trip to
Manchester City on Monday.
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'We'll turn it round'
WHUFC.com
Gianfranco Zola believes his side can bounce back at Manchester City next
Monday evening
22.09.2009
Gianfranco Zola has urged his West Ham United team to return to winning ways
following their Carling Cup third-round exit at Bolton Wanderers. In one of
five all-Premier League ties at this stage of the competition, West Ham
started strongly at the Reebok Stadium only to find themselves defeated 3-1
on the night. Zavon Hines and Kieron Dyer both went close to giving the
visitors an early lead. The Hammers eventually went in front through Herita
Ilunga ten minutes after half-time, only for Kevin Davies to level matters
with an 86th-minute header from a Matt Taylor corner - one of 21 forced by
the Trotters. Goals in each half of extra time from Gary Cahill and Johan
Elmander then put paid to West Ham's chances of making the last-16.
Alessandro Diamanti hit the Bolton crossbar with the score at 2-1, but it
was to be the Lancastrians' night. Zola conceded that he was disappointed to
see his team lose after creating a host of clear-cut chances, but backed his
players to put in an improved performance in Monday's Barclays Premier
League fixture at Manchester City.
"It was a long night and also a disappointing night. It was an unexpected
defeat. I didn't expect that, to be honest. I was waiting for the second
goal to come at any moment. It was very disappointing. "Finishing was one of
the reasons we lost. When you build up so many opportunities, you need to
obviously do better. That was it, really. When you play teams like them, you
can expect in the last minute that a corner-kick can always produce
something. That was a problem. "On the other hand, we defended corner-kicks
and free-kicks so well the whole evening, so I wasn't expecting that. There
are moments in the game when you have to raise your attention a little more
and deal with those situations better."
Zola's side will now concentrate on the league, with a trip to Eastlands for
a live ESPN-televised match up next on Monday evening. There, with the likes
of Matthew Upson, Valon Behrami, Danny Gabbidon, Luis Jimenez, Junior
Stanislas and Guillermo Franco all possibly set to be available for
selection, the manager believes his players will rise to the occasion. "We
wanted to stay in and progress in the competition, but unfortunately that
wasn't the case. Never mind. We are going to make up for it in the next
game. "It's not a great moment for us, obviously, but we're playing good
football and that is encouraging, so we just need to improve a few things.
At least we are producing some good football."
That good football was produced by a West Ham team playing in an adventurous
4-3-3 formation, with Hines leading the line ahead of the lively Diamanti
and Dyer. "We came here to play our game and it was evident in the way we
played. I don't remember a game where we created so many opportunities. That
was it, really. We just need to be a little bit more precise and we will do
better. "We came here to play an open game and it's been an open game, it's
as simple as that. It's just a moment when things aren't going our way, but
if we keep a good attitude and try to raise our attention a bit more, we'll
turn it round."
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Bolton 3 - 1 West Ham
BBC.co.uk
Johan Elmander's first goal this season set the seal on a hard-fought
extra-time victory for Bolton over West Ham in the third round of the
Carling Cup. Herita Ilunga had poked in at the far post to put the Hammers
1-0 up and that was the score with four minutes left. But Kevin Davies
stooped low to direct a fine header in to take the game into extra time,
before Gary Cahill crashed in a fine goal to put the hosts ahead. And
Elmander tapped in for the first time since December to seal the win.
Although the Premier League remains the priority for Bolton, the victory
provided a welcome confidence boost after a sketchy start to the season,
while for West Ham it is a seventh failure in eight years to reach the
fourth round. It looked like being very different, however, when Ilunga
poked in his first senior goal for West Ham after the hosts failed to clear
Alessandro Diamanti's poorly-hit corner. The goal had come against the run
of play, and Bolton's pressure at set-pieces in particular finally told in
the 86th minute when Davies headed in Matthew Taylor's whipped cross. That
sent the match into extra time, and Taylor almost won the match four minutes
into the first period only for his 25-yard free-kick to rebound off a post
with keeper Robert Green well beaten. Cahill did put Bolton 2-1 up, though,
when he smashed home from outside the penalty area. Diamanti hit the
crossbar with a left-footed curling shot nine minutes from the end, but that
was the closest West Ham came as Elmander added the decisive third late on
to wrap up a deserved victory.
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Bolton 3 West Ham Utd 1 (aet)
KUMB.com
Filed: Tuesday, 22nd September 2009
By: Staff Writer
Bogey team Bolton did a number on Gianfranco Zola's West Ham at the Reebok
Stadium tonight, coming from behind to dump the Hammers out of the Carling
Cup.
In a complete reversal of last month's second round tie with Millwall,
United found themselves a goal up thanks to Herita Ilunga's 59th minute
striker with just minutes of the game left to play.
But just as Junior Stanislas saved Hammers' blushes that evening, Kevin
Davies sent tonight's tie - played in front of a paltry crowd of just 8,050
- into extra time when he nodded home a Matt Taylor corner with just four
mintes of normal time left to play.
Bolton, now full of confidence having drawn level took the lead for the
first time in the match six minutes into extra time when Gary Cahill took a
chance on a poor headed clearance. The defender fired an unstoppable volley
beyond Rob Green from the edge of the box.
The Hammers were inches away from restoring parity when Allesandro
Diamanti's 111th minute curling effort clipped the wrong side of the
crossbar. The Italian forward, who had seen an earlier effort of a similar
nature narrowly miss the target finished the game barely able to stand, let
alone run.
With the entire Hammers side flagging Bolton added insult to injury in the
final minute of extra time by adding a third goal. Record signing Johan
Elmander - who cost the Trotters a startling £11million - scored a rare goal
when he converted Lee's cross from close range.
Despite having been second best for much of the game, United had taken the
lead on the hour mark when left-back Ilunga took advantage of some
horrendous defending to stab home a low Alessandro Diamanti corner.
However that was as good as it got for Zola's side, whose form is beginning
to cause some concern amongst supporters who have seen United win just two
of their seven games so far this season, with tonight's game being West
Ham's third successive defeat in all competitions.
Bolton 3 West Ham United 1 aet (1-1 after 90 mins) - match facts
West Ham United: Green, Spector, Tomkins, Da Costa (N'Gala 63), Ilunga,
Noble, Parker, Kovac, Dyer (Cole 75), Diamanti, Hines (Faubert 88).
Subs not used: Kurucz, Payne, Edgar, Nouble.
Goals: Ilunga (59).
Booked: Parker (94).
Bolton Wanderers: Jaaskelainen, Ricketts, Cahill, Knight, Samuel, Taylor,
Muamba, McCann (Cohen 82), Gardner (Lee 69), K.Davies, Klasnic (Elmander
77).
Subs not used: Al Habsi, Steinsson, A.O'Brien, Davies.
Goals: Davies (85), Cahill (96), Elmander (119).
Referee: Howard Webb.
Attendance: 8,050.
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Trotters see off Hammers
Bolton book passge into the fourth round
Last updated: 22nd September 2009
SSN
Bolton edged out Premier League rivals West Ham in the Carling Cup third
round, prevailing 3-1 after extra-time. The Hammers had gone in front
through Herita Ilunga, but Kevin Davies levelled just before the 90 minute
mark was reached. Gary Cahill proved to be the unlikely hero for the
Trotters, as he fired them ahead, before Johan Elmander added a third late
on. Although the Premier League remains the priority for Bolton, the victory
provided a welcome confidence boost after a sketchy start to the season. For
West Ham this was a seventh failure in eight years to reach the fourth round
but at least manager Gianfranco Zola now has a chance to concentrate on
lifting his side away from the lower end of the league table. Despite not
having the best start to their campaigns the match got off to a flying start
and both sides could have scored in the opening two minutes. From Matt
Taylor's corner Ricardo Gardner's shot was charged down by Ilunga and West
Ham quickly countered with Kieron Dyer seeing his effort deflected past a
post. From that corner Alessandro Diamanti's strike was saved by Jussi
Jaaskelainen.
In the 13th minute Robert Green got down well to his right to keep out Zat
Knight's header from Sam Ricketts' cross, while Zavon Hines was denied by
Jaaskelainen as the end-to-end action continued. Ivan Klasnic, who was
brought in to provide extra firepower as before tonight £10million striker
Elmander had not scored in 22 matches since his goal against Aston Villa on
13th December, produced his howler in the 27th minute. Davies did all the
hard work by beating Manuel da Costa to the right by-line but when he
clipped in his cross the Croatian somehow diverted the ball back towards his
team-mate from three yards with the goal at his mercy. Seconds later Klasnic
showed a much better touch as his looping header from Gardner's cross forced
Green into a fingertip save. Just before half-time Da Costa was only inches
away from heading in Ilunga's left-wing cross as the Hammers showed they
remained a threat. Less than two minutes into the second half Klasnic almost
scored with a complete mis-kick. Davies' knock-down dropped to him on the
penalty spot and as he swung a leg at it the ball shot skywards but as the
Croatian turned his back in disgust Green had to tip it over as it dropped
just under his crossbar.
The England goalkeeper was also at full stretch to get his fingertips to
Taylor's inswinging right-wing cross as Bolton increased the pressure.
Surprisingly, it was West Ham who took the lead in the 59th minute with
their first real attack after the interval. Taylor hacked wildly at
Diamanti's poorly-hit corner and succeeded only in diverting the ball to the
far post where Ilunga rammed home from close range. Klasnic was eventually
replaced by Elmander with 14 minutes remaining but Taylor remained Bolton's
biggest threat with his set-piece delivery and twice the visitors had to
scramble away right-wing corners. With five minutes to go Taylor's fiendish
delivery finally worked as Davies headed home the equaliser.
Taylor almost won the match four minutes into the added period but his
25-yard free-kick rebounded off a post with Green well beaten. However, the
winner came two minutes later when Fabrice Muamba's blocked shot dropped to
centre-back Cahill who smashed home from outside the penalty area. Diamanti
hit the crossbar with a left-footed curling shot nine minutes from the end
but that was the closest West Ham came as Elmander added the decisive third
late on.
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Bolton Wanderers 3 - 1 West Ham United
ESPN
Updated: September 23, 2009, 8:51 AM UK
Defender Gary Cahill was the unlikely match-winner for Bolton as he produced
a stunning strike in extra-time to beat West Ham 3-1 in their Carling Cup
third-round tie at the Reebok Stadium. The centre-back drilled home from 25
yards just six minutes into the additional period to turn things around for
the home side with Johan Elmander sliding in a third very late on. Wanderers
captain Kevin Davies had struck with a header just before the end of 90
minutes to cancel out Herita Ilunga's first goal for the club on the hour.
Although the Premier League remains the priority for Bolton, the victory
provided a welcome confidence boost after a sketchy start to the season. For
West Ham this was a seventh failure in eight years to reach the fourth round
but at least manager Gianfranco Zola now has a chance to concentrate on
lifting his side away from the lower end of the league table.
Despite not having the best start to their campaigns the match got off to a
flying start and both sides could have scored in the opening two minutes.
From Matt Taylor's corner Ricardo Gardner's shot was charged down by Ilunga
and West Ham quickly countered with Kieron Dyer seeing his effort deflected
past a post. From that corner Alessandro Diamanti's strike was saved by
Jussi Jaaskelainen.
In the 13th minute Robert Green got down well to his right to keep out Zat
Knight's header from Sam Ricketts' cross, while Zavon Hines was denied by
Jaaskelainen as the end-to-end action continued.
Ivan Klasnic, who was brought in to provide extra firepower as before
tonight £10million striker Elmander had not scored in 22 matches since his
goal against Aston Villa on December 13, produced his howler in the 27th
minute. Davies did all the hard work by beating Manuel da Costa to the right
byline but when he clipped in his cross the Croatian somehow diverted the
ball back towards his team-mate from three yards with the goal at his mercy.
Seconds later Klasnic showed a much better touch as his looping header from
Gardner's cross forced Green into a fingertip save. Just before half-time Da
Costa was only inches away from heading in Ilunga's left-wing cross as the
Hammers showed they remained a threat.
Less than two minutes into the second half Klasnic almost scored with a
complete mis-kick. Davies' knock-down dropped to him on the penalty spot and
as he swung a leg at it the ball shot skywards but as the Croatian turned
his back in disgust Green had to tip it over as it dropped just under his
crossbar. The England goalkeeper was also at full stretch to get his
fingertips to Taylor's inswinging right-wing cross as Bolton increased the
pressure.
Surprisingly, it was West Ham who took the lead in the 59th minute with
their first real attack after the interval. Taylor hacked wildly at
Diamanti's poorly-hit corner and succeeded only in diverting the ball to the
far post where Ilunga rammed home from close range.
Klasnic was eventually replaced by Elmander with 14 minutes remaining but
Taylor remained Bolton's biggest threat with his set-piece delivery and
twice the visitors had to scramble away right-wing corners. With five
minutes to go Taylor's fiendish delivery finally worked as Davies headed
home the equaliser.
Taylor almost won the match four minutes into the added period but his
25-yard free-kick rebounded off a post with Green well beaten. However, the
winner came two minutes later when Fabrice Muamba's blocked shot dropped to
centre-back Cahill who smashed home from outside the penalty area.
Diamanti hit the crossbar with a left-footed curling shot nine minutes from
the end but that was the closest West Ham came as Elmander added the
decisive third late on.
After the match Bolton manager Gary Megson could not hide his delight after
watching his side battle back from a goal down.
"There are a huge number of positives to come out of the game: Johan has
scored his first goal for a long time, the crowd were superb, Kevin Davies
scored and led the line brilliantly and we have come back from a goal down
to beat a good side 3-1 and deservedly so," said the Bolton boss.
"Everyone tells me we haven't won the first three [league] games and we have
big issues but no-one mentions we have played five, won three, drawn one and
lost to Liverpool with 10 men when we were winning.
"If we have got problems then there are a few clubs up and down this country
that have got as many problems if not more.
"People talk about character of teams, players and individuals and I don't
think we could show more character - not just tonight but in the
circumstances we have been playing."
Megson was particularly pleased for Elmander, a £1 0million signing in the
summer of 2008, had ended a barren spell of 22 matches stretching back to
December.
"Johan was so desperate to score he was snatching at it," added the
Wanderers boss. "If he takes his time, with the quality he has, I'm sure he
will finish more but that [goal] will do him the world of good. Everyone is
concerned about his lack of goals, none more so than Johan.
"He wants to do well and if his personality was different and he thought
'Stuff it, I can't be bothered', he probably would have scored before now.
But because he gets so intense and is so determined to score at times he is
not relaxed.
"I really do hope that goal relaxes him a bit because the arrival of Ivan
Klasnic (on loan from Nantes) will put both him and Kevin Davies under
pressure. But I'm not ready to give up on Johan Elmander and no-one at the
club is either."
West Ham United manager Gianfranco Zola was left to rue his side's poor
finishing and lapse in concentration at set-pieces.
"It has been a long and disappointing night," said the Italian. "With the
way things were going on the pitch I was not expecting that. I was waiting
for the second goal to come at any moment - it was very disappointing. When
you build up a lot of chances you have to do better and when you play teams
like Bolton you can expect a corner can cause problems.
"There are moments in the game when you have to raise your attention and
deal with those situations better."
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