Bolton Wanderers 3 West Ham United 1 aet: match report

22 September 2009 22:53
Johan Elmander, Bolton's £10 million forward, ended a 22-game goal drought stretching back nine months as Gary Megson's team secured their place in the Carling Cup fourth round at the expense of West Ham at the Reebok. [LNB]Sweden international Elmander has endured a miserable time in England since arriving from Toulouse in summer 2008, scoring just five goals prior to his decisive goal against Gianfranco Zola's team. [LNB] Related ArticlesArsenal 2 West Bromwich Albion 0Leeds United 0 Liverpool 1Nottingham Forest 0 Blackburn 1Peterborough 2 Newcastle 0Sport on televisionBut his 118th-minute tap-in from Chung-Yong Lee's cross - his first goal at the Reebok since the opening day of last season -- eased not only lanced his own goalscoring boil, but also relieved the pressure on manager Megson, who has suffered vociferous criticism from the Bolton supporters this season. [LNB]Megson said: "Johan has been unlucky because he has had chances to score but, because he has been so desperate to do so, he has snatched at chances. But with the quality he has got, he will score more for us and the goal tonight will do him the world of good. [LNB]"If he were a different type of character, he might think 'stuff it' and not bother, but he wants to do well and I hope the goal relaxes him a bit. Johan's goal was just one of a huge amount of positives to come from the victory. [LNB]"The crowd were behind us for 120 minutes and we have come from a goal down to deservedly beat a very good team." [LNB]In front of a crowd of just 8,050, Bolton created a host of opportunities to score in the first-half, but England goalkeeper Robert Green lived up to his status as his country's current number one with a series of impressive saves to deny the home side. [LNB]Green reacted well to keep out Zat Knight's close range header on 13 minutes after the former Aston Villa defender had been teed up by Matt Taylor. [LNB]And after Ivan Klasnic failed to hit the target from two yards on 27 minutes, Green produced another fine save to tip the Croatian forward's looping header from 18 yards over the crossbar. [LNB]Bolton were humiliated at the Reebok by League One minnows Northampton Town at the second round stage of last season's competition, so making up for that embarrassment was clearly a motivating factor. [LNB]But Megson's team were punished for their profligacy when Herita Ilunga opened the scoring for West Ham on 59 minutes after Taylor had failed to clear Alessandro Diamanti's corner. [LNB]West Ham appeared set for victory until Kevin Davies's 87th minute header from Taylor's corner took the game into extra-time. [LNB]And after Gary Cahill gave Bolton the lead with a stunning half-volley from 20-yards on 96 minutes, Elmander confirmed the victory by drawing a line under his personal torment in front of goal. [LNB]West Ham manager Zola said: "It was a long night and a disappointing night because this was an unexpected defeat. When we took the lead, I was waiting for the second goal to come at any moment. This is a competition that we wanted do stay in, so to go out is very disappointing." [LNB]Match details[LNB]Bolton (4-4-2): Jaaskelainen; Ricketts, Knight, Cahill, Samuel; Taylor, Muamba, McCann (Cohen 82), Gardner (Lee 69); K Davies, Klasnic (Elmander 77).Subs: Al Habsi (g), A O'Brien, M Davies, Steinsson.Goals: K Davies 87, Cahill 96, Elmander 119. West Ham (4-1-3-2): Green; Spector, Tomkins, Da Costa (N'Gala 63), Ilunga; Parker; Kovac, Noble, Dyer (Cole 75); Diamanti, Hines (Faubert 88).Subs: Kurucz (g), Nouble, Payne, Edgar.Goals: Ilunga 60.Booked: Parker.Referee: H Webb (S. Yorkshire) [LNB] 

Source: Telegraph