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An injury time strike from Kevin Nolan gave Bolton a well deserved point from their trip to West Ham. George McCartney had given West Ham a 20th minute lead with the first goal of his career before Bolton took control of the game. The visitors were missing the injured Nicolas Anelka and so started with Kevin Davies as their sole striker, supported by a five-man midfield. Bolton had the first chance of the game, with Ivan Campo hitting a free-kick just wide of Robert Green's right hand post. Lee Bowyer had the hosts first chance of the game, but struck just wide when found in space, unfortunately for him, the linesman had already raised his flag for offside against Carlton Cole. Matthew Etherington outpaced Andy O'Brien before putting in a cross which was cleared for a corner by Abdoulaye Meite. But the hosts took the lead just a minute later, McCartney volleying past Jussi Jaaskelainen after Matthew Upson's header had been cleared off the line. It was McCartney's first goal in a career which has lasted nine years to date and he celebrated in style. He was needed at the other end just moments later, with El-Hadji Diouf's deflected shot looping over Green before being headed clear. Bolton were now taking control of the game and Gary Speed was next to try his luck with a first time effort from the edge of the area but he fired over the crossbar. Just before half-time, the Trotters were almost back in the game, Danny Guthrie pounced on Davies' knockdown but his effort hit the outside of the West Ham post. Both sides came out strong after the break, with Nolan and Solano having efforts for both sides. Penalty appeals were sounding around Upton Park when Andy O'Brien held off a run from Bowyer but the referee was having none of it. Bolton were in search of an equaliser and Gary Speed almost found it with a volley from the edge of the area, forcing Green to push the ball over his own bar. Ricardo Gardner's poor passing almost gifted the Hammers the points, with Luis Boa Morte breaking into the Wanderers area before Gardner redeemed himself by clearing for a corner. Carlton Cole had an effort saved by Jaaskelainen before Davies almost gave Bolton a deserved goal, latching on to Guthrie's pinpoint cross but heading onto the crossbar with Green beaten. Jonathan Spector cleared a Nolan header off the line in stoppage time but it was the Wanderers skipper who was to have the last laugh of the day. Three minutes into stoppage time, Lubomir Michalik flicked on a Bolton free-kick and Nolan fired past Green with a placed volley to send the Wanderers players, staff and fans into raptures. Despite dominating most of the game, Wanderers were happy to take a point from London despite still lying in the bottom three. Gary Megson is still winless as Bolton manager and takes his side to Germany on Thursday where they will face European giants Bayern Munich. |
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