West Ham United v Bolton Wanderers - Follow LIVE Text Commentary

06 March 2010 12:08
West Ham United v Bolton Wanderers

Follow every kick as West Ham United take on Bolton Wanderers at Upton Park in the Premier League
on 06-Mar-2010, kick off time 15:00

West Ham United v Bolton Wanderers Live

Match Preview

Despite an unsurprising humbling by Manchester United, West Ham have found some decent home form recently which, if they manage to keep up until May, could well ensure their Premier League status.

The Hammers have not conceded a goal at Upton Park in four Premier League matches now and with their forwards starting to find their range, manager Gianfranco Zola has every right to feel more confident than he did a month ago when his side were languishing in the drop-zone.

With just four points separating the teams from 13th to 19th in the Premier League, the result of this game is likely to have serious ramifications on the final league standings.

Bolton have not won away from home in 10 league fixtures, failing to score in the last four of these. However, five consecutive victories over the Irons will give them hope.

Therefore, both sets of players will need to be prepared for a big challenge at the Boleyn Ground on Saturday.

West Ham's Valon Behrami revealed: "This is a game like the Hull one, against a team on the same level and they are a physical team.

"We need to win as we are at home and keep playing like we played against Birmingham and Hull. This is a very, very important game."

Bolton defender Sam Ricketts commented: "Wolves was the start of a massive run of games for us and so it was important we got off to that with a victory.

"Confidence is good and has always been good. The manager has made sure of that, but three points gives us all that little extra lift.

"We are working hard for each other. Now we have to focus on trying to get a run together and keep moving up the table."

Bolton are without a number of players for this game, but undoubtedly their biggest miss will be Gary Cahill who has scored in three of the last four meetings with West Ham.

Source: DSG