Jarrod Bowen scored twice as West Ham beat Bolton 3-2 at the Toughsheet Community Stadium to move top of the Sky Bet Championship on goal difference. The win is West Ham’s first at Bolton in 31 years.
Bowen opened the scoring after 13 minutes and sealed the comeback with his second 13 minutes from time. Bolton had led 2-1 after goals from Ethan Erhahon and Ruben Rodrigues, but Konstantinos Mavropanos levelled before Bowen finished the job.
Bowen’s early strike sets the tone
West Ham took the lead when Bowen sent a lofted left-foot shot into the net, and Bazunu kept the score down by blocking a close-range effort from Pablo.
Five minutes was all the advantage lasted. Erhahon, who once played for Lincoln, brought the score level with a powerful drive from his left foot that struck Mavropanos before continuing past Mads Hermansen.
The lead changed hands after just 27 minutes, when Kyle Walker-Peters brought down winger Kyliane Dong, who is on loan from Augsburg, earning Bolton a penalty. Rodrigues stepped up to take it and put his team ahead, with the goal capping a personal return to form for the striker. Rodrigues had previously netted twice in Bolton’s League One play-off final win last May, including a spot kick.
Mavropanos levels before the break
The Iron answered right away. Arne Engels curled a free-kick towards the far post, and Mavropanos rose above everyone else to meet it with his head, sending the ball into the net for an equaliser.
Soon after, the Greek centre-back nearly added a second goal, though Bazunu kept out the ball from under his own bar following Bowen’s corner.
Dong missed the target with a wide effort, while Sam Dalby saw his attempt saved by Hermansen in added time, leaving Bolton ahead at the break.
Second half control
West Ham had more control during the second half, which made it a calmer period compared to the first half.
Bowen handed Substitute Manor Solomon a chance he should have handled with more skill. Joel Piroe, another replacement, instead sent his effort high over the away supporters, with only Bazunu to beat.
The ball trickled over the line anyway, even though Bazunu made a desperate attempt to stop it. Bowen was the one who finally managed to squeeze a close-range shot into the net.
Josh Sheehan, who plays for Wales, made a late charge to clear the ball off the line, preventing a last-minute hat-trick.
Bolton’s run of losses grows
Bolton have dropped four matches in a row. Steven Schumacher argued his team did not deserve to lose.
“If we keep playing well the results will come.”
The additional remarks from Schumacher included “We thought we could take points off West Ham and we nearly did. I actually don’t think we have deserved to lose any of the four games we have.”.
The team is performing well and holding its own against top sides, he said. “I don’t want to sound patronising but the lads are playing extremely well, competing with top teams, showing good team spirit, carrying out the game plan and creating some good chances and opportunities.”
Schumacher compared the run to last season. “It reminds me of last year when we drew five games on the spin and couldn’t get over the line. In this league it is less forgiving, more punishing. The games we played last year and drew and not getting over the line, we are losing this year.”
He said the standard is what the club worked for. “That is the standard, this is what we worked so hard in League One to get to. So I am pleased with what we did apart from the scoreline.”
Nuno praises his team’s fight
Bolton forced West Ham to earn their victory, according to the man who now leads the Hammers.
“Bolton played a fantastic game and created enormous problems for us, so we had to react and be resilient when we needed to be.”
He said every team has threats. “We must realise every team has threats and quality players. But so have we and we controlled it much better in the second half.”
Nuno praised his players’ effort. “The boys worked so hard for it so I am very happy. However, we all have to improve but first of all, we try to sustain the level which is hard in this league.”
He said the club is united. “I hope it (the future) is better. The belief of everyone, starting with the ownership, the staff, the players and the fans, we are trying to have better days. What I see and what I feel is unity in all departments of the club which is very important.”
A victory by West Ham has put them atop the Championship on goal difference, and it finally breaks a lengthy drought at Bolton, where they had not secured a win in over three decades.
The captain made the difference with a double, producing when his team needed him most.
Schumacher believes the results will keep arriving if Bolton’s displays continue to match what they’ve shown so far. The Trotters are still searching for a second-tier win since the season began.
The Championship campaign carries on, and each team’s standing will be judged over the coming weeks. West Ham sit atop the table at present, while Bolton chase a victory that has eluded them through four successive defeats.
Source: skysports.com
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