Meg on their faces

21 February 2009 19:27
Bolton 2-1 West HamSoccer Saturday analysis[LNB] Paul Merson watched Gary Megson buy himself some more time - and backed him to keep Bolton in the Premier League.[LNB]Two goals in the space of a minute from Matt Taylor and Kevin Davies saw the Trotters pick up three invaluable points against in-form West Ham United.[LNB]It meant an afternoon without any boos for the beleaguered Bolton boss and perhaps more importantly, another step towards top-flight survival.[LNB]But even then Merson admitted that the man once dubbed the 'Ginger Mourinho' is still not flavour of the month down at The Reebok.[LNB]"They do have to win these games," he told Soccer Saturday.[LNB]"They scored the two goals in quick succession but after that West Ham had attack after attack after attack. Bolton held on in the end but they did hold on and that's the name of the game. [LNB]"That's all they've got to do Bolton, get the three points. A few more of these and they will be safe, but West Ham can count themselves unlucky.[LNB]"At 2-1 they were just waiting; they were very quiet, one or two were biting their nails. You could just see, when the camera went on Megson at the same time as the fans that they were looking and thinking 'if they score another one here, we'll be all over you'.[LNB]"I think they are a certainty to stay up really. They need three more wins from 11 or 12 games and the way they play - Matty Taylor's got a great left foot and they are a hard-working team - I would be majorly shocked if they went down from here."[LNB]SidewaysThe early blast put an end to West Ham's decent run - defeat at Old Trafford aside - even though they did pull one back through Scott Parker.[LNB]But Merson was far from concerned for Gianfranco Zola and his side who, he said, can count themselves unlucky not have piled the pressure firmly back on Megson.[LNB]"West Ham were just caught cold - very much so.[LNB]"Bolton not having a game for two weeks didn't help them, with West Ham playing last week. [LNB]"They just flew out of the traps and West Ham didn't get going for 25 minutes. But those two goals in a minute just knocked them sideways.[LNB]"Some of the football they played was different class, they just made the wrong decisions at the wrong time. De Michele missed a great chance one-on-one with the keeper and as for Mark Noble I don't know why he chose to pass when he should've just shot. [LNB]"They had loads of chances, it was just that bad start. And in this league you give any football team a two-goal headstart it's going to be hard."[LNB]

Source: SKY_Sports