BOLTON WANDERERS V WEST HAM UNITED
BARCLAYS PREMIER LEAGUE
SATURDAY 9 APRIL 2011
REEBOK STADIUM
KICK-OFF: 3PM
FULL AUDIO COVERAGE - WEST HAM TV
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Introduction
• West Ham United travel to the Reebok Stadium looking to make it five successive away matches unbeaten in the Barclays Premier League for the first time since the 2008/09 season. In fact, during that campaign, the Hammers went seven matches unbeaten on the road in one run before losing 2-1 at Bolton Wanderers on 21 February 2009.
• The Hammers are eager to keep the new away streak going as they enter the weekend back in the bottom three, with seven matches left to play this season. Bolton are in eighth place on 40 points, eight ahead of their 18th-ranked visitors.
• West Ham have lost just one of their last five league matches, the 4-2 defeat last weekend at the hands of leaders Manchester United.
• The Hammers have lost their last seven matches against Bolton Wanderers, with six of those coming in the Barclays Premier League.
• In all, the Hammers have failed to beat Bolton in eight matches - a run stretching back to the 3-1 home league win at the Boleyn Ground on 5 May 2007, when Carlos Tevez netted twice and Mark Noble once. Wales manager Gary Speed scored Bolton's goal.
• Bolton have won their last three home matches, the most recent being a 3-2 success against Aston Villa. They are also preparing for next week's FA Cup semi-final against Stoke City at Wembley.
• Bolton beat West Ham three times last season, winning 3-1 on the first two occasions. The first came in the Carling Cup third round on 22 September 2009, followed by a Premier League success on 15 December 2009. That was followed by a 2-1 home defeat on 6 March 2010. Bolton also triumphed 3-1 at the Boleyn Ground this season on 21 August 2010.
Last time out
Saturday 2 April 2011
Barclays Premier League
West Ham United 2-4 Manchester United
West Ham United: Green, Jacobsen, Da Costa, Upson, Bridge, Noble (Keane 83), Parker, Hitzlsperger, O'Neil (Obinna 83), Cole (Piquionne 68), Ba
Subs not used: Boffin, Reid, Tomkins, Spector
Goals: Noble 11 pen, 25 pen
Saturday 2 April 2011
Barclays Premier League
Birmingham City 2-1 Bolton Wanderers
Bolton Wanderers: Jaaskelainen, Steinsson, Cahill, Wheater, Alonso, Cohen (Lee 64), Muamba (Taylor 79), Petrov (Klasnic 73), Elmander, K Davies, Sturridge
Subs not used: Bogdan, Robinson, Moreno, Blake
Goal: Elmander 70
Previous meeting
West Ham entertained Bolton on Saturday 21 August for Avram Grant's first home match in charge of the Hammers. The Hammers began brightly but paid the price for their first-half profligacy, mainly a missed Carlton Cole penalty and a Kieron Dyer effort that hit the post. A Matthew Upson own goal and Johan Elmander put the visitors in front and Elmander later dashed any hopes of a home revival through Mark Noble's late spot-kick.
West Ham United: Green, Faubert, Gabbidon, Upson (Reid 54), Ilunga, Dyer (McCarthy 77), Noble, Parker, Barrera, Cole (Sears 86), Piquionne
Subs not used: Stech, Tomkins, Boa Morte, Kovac
Bolton Wanderers: Jaaskelainen, Steinsson, Cahill, Knight, Robinson, Holden, Muamba, Lee (Taylor 81), Petrov (Blake 88), Elmander (M Davies 86), K Davies
Subs not used: Bogdan, Ricketts, O'Brien, Klasnic
Background
• West Ham have been caught offside (102) more times than any other Barclays Premier League team this season.
• Bolton have conceded more fouls (408) than any other Barclays Premier League team this season.
• This is the 56th league meeting between the two sides. Bolton have won 29, West Ham have won 18 and there have been eight draws.
• Johan Elmander is Bolton's top scorer with 12 goals, ten of which have come in the top flight. Carlton Cole has eleven for West Ham, but just five have been in the league.
• Cole was West Ham's leading scorer last season with ten top-flight goals.
• Kevin Davies has scored on four of his last six starts against West Ham.
• West Ham's biggest win at Bolton was a 3-0 success on 18 November 1995 while the Trotters' best showing at home in this fixture was a 5-0 triumph on 29 November 1924 - two seasons after their 2-0 victory over the Hammers in the first Wembley FA Cup final.
Head to head
Last six meetings: (Premier League unless stated)
21 August 2010 - West Ham United 1-3 Bolton Wanderers
6 March 2010 - West Ham United 1-2 Bolton Wanderers
15 December 2009 - Bolton Wanderers 3-1 West Ham United
22 September 2009 - Bolton Wanderers 3-1 West Ham United (League Cup third round)
21 February 2009 - Bolton Wanderers 2-1 West Ham United
5 October 2008 - West Ham United 1-3 Bolton Wanderers
Overall record v Bolton Wanderers (all competitions) W 22 D 10 L 34
Team news
• Avram Grant has a virtually fully-fit squad to choose from.
• Jack Collison is due to start for the reserves in Tuesday evening's home match with Aston Villa at Bishop's Stortford FC.
• Grant is still without long-term absentee Peter Kurucz (knee) and Junior Stanislas (groin), while Kieron Dyer (Ipswich Town), Jordan Spence (Bristol City), Frank Nouble (Charlton Athletic) and Olly Lee (Dagenham and Redbridge) are out on loan at present.
• Bolton have Ricardo Gardner back from his loan at Preston North End but are still without Stuart Holden, who is out for at least another five months with a serious knee ligament injury.
• Sam Ricketts (achilles) is also not expected to return until next season but Mark Davies is closer to a return from a foot problem.
• Zat Knight has returned to reserve-team action, having been out with a knee problem and could replace David Wheater, should Bolton choose to rest him with an eye on next week's FA Cup semi-final against Stoke City.
Ten-year records
West Ham United
2009/10 Premier League 17th (35 points)
2008/09 Premier League 9th (51 points)
2007/08 Premier League 10th (49 points)
2006/07 Premier League 15th (41 points)
2005/06 Premier League 9th (55 points)
2004/05 Championship 6th (73 points - promoted via play-offs)
2003/04 Championship 4th (74 points)
2002/03 Premier League 18th (42 points - relegated to Championship)
2001/02 Premier League 7th (53 points)
2000/01 Premier League 15th (42 points)
Bolton Wanderers
2009/10 Premier League 14th (39 points)
2008/09 Premier League 13th (41 points)
2007/09 Premier League 16th (37 points)
2006/07 Premier League 7th (56 points)
2005/06 Premier League 8th (56 points)
2004/05 Premier League 6th (58 points)
2003/04 Premier League 8th (53 points)
2002/03 Premier League 17th (44 points)
2001/02 Premier League 16th (40 points)
2000/01 Championship 3rd (87 points - promoted via play-offs)
Referee
• Saturday's referee will be Lee Probert.
• Probert will take charge of West Ham United for the third time this season, having previously refereed the Barclays Premier League fixtures at Liverpool (0-3) on 20 November and at home to Wolverhampton Wanderers (2-0) on New Year's Day.
• The 38-year-old official was born in Gloucestershire and began refereeing in 1986. He was promoted to the Football League assistant referees' list in 1998, and made the step up to referee in the league five years later.
• Probert was promoted to the Select Group of Premier League referees in summer 2007.
• In 27 domestic matches refereed in 2010/11, Probert has issued 67 yellow cards and sent-off six players.
Old boys
• Among those players who have represented both clubs are Tal Ben Haim, Frank Costello, George Eccles, Thomas Kinsell and William Yenson. Anthony Barness was loaned to West Ham in January 2004 but returned without playing a game inside 24 hours.
General information
• For ticket information, click here.
• Saturday afternoon's forecast in Bolton is for a sunny day with maximum daytime temperature of 19C (67F).