West Ham United 3-1 Bolton: Terrific Tevez
Carlos Tevez dragged West Ham out of the Premiership relegation zone with two goals and an assist in a 3-1 home win against Bolton.
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Carlos Tevez scores his free-kickNow only the `Gang of Four' and their threat to sue the Premier League for not docking them points for illegally signing Tevez and Javier Mascherano earlier in the season looks the major threat to West Ham's top-flight status after six wins in the last eight matches.
Boss Alan Curbishley, who saw them win only one of their first 11 after he arrived to replace Alan Pardew, must have thought, like the home fans, they were going to rack up a snooker score against hapless Bolton with an electric display in the first half.
But after Tevez curled in a sublime free-kick for an early opener, added a simple second and laid on a third for Mark Noble, the Hammers went to sleep in the second period and did not awaken until the last few minutes when substitute Marlon Harewood twice failed by inches to add to their lead.
By then, Gary Speed had pulled one back for Bolton on 67 minutes after keeper Rob Green superbly saved from Nicolas Anelka.
It was some consolation for new manager Sammy Lee in what had looked a baptism of fire just a few days after Sam Allardyce's shock walk-out.
But unless they radically improve against Aston Villa next Sunday, their dream of qualifying for the UEFA Cup again will be over.
Curbishley's team were clearly in the mood when referee Mike Riley had to call West Ham's players from a pre-match huddle for the kick-off, such was their determination to escape the drop in their last home appearance of the season.
Bolton, trying to prove there is still life after Allardyce following his resignation with just two games to go, played with top-scorer Anelka alone up front but with dangerous Kevin Davies at the front of a midfield diamond.
Out of nowhere it was Tevez who delighted the home crowd by giving the Hammers an 11th minute lead with a superb free-kick.
He was brought down six yards outside the area by Abdoulaye Meite and stepped up to curl a beautiful effort over the wall and wide of keeper Jussi Jaaskelainen.
Tevez ran joyfully to the sidelines to celebrate his fifth goal of the season but was soon back in action, lining up the Hammers wall to face an Anelka free-kick.
He must have got it just right as the Frenchman's attempt from 25 yards failed to breach the obstruction.
And it got even better for West Ham and Tevez when he slotted home a second goal after 22 minutes.
Midfielder Noble was the instigator when dispossessing Anelka inside his own half and sending Luis Boa Morte scampering down the left to lay on a simple sidefooted effort for the South American.
Tevez might have had a hat-trick soon afterwards when his powerful shot was beaten out by Jaaskelainen, but instead he laid on the third for Noble in the 29th minute - with assistance from Bolton.
Ivan Campo's control was a shambles as he tried to trap a hacked clearance by Anton Ferdinand in his own half and although Speed should have tidied up, the home side grabbed possession again and Tevez looked up from the left to see Noble totally unmarked at the far side to volley sweetly home.
Skipper Nigel Reo-Coker, Yossi Benayoun and Noble dominated the midfield as Bolton gormlessly declined to refine their one-up, long ball approach.
Anelka looked an isolated figure at the front as both Davies and Nolan were too embroiled in helping stem the West Ham avalanche to support him.
New Bolton boss Lee must have given an Allardyce-style grilling to his side at half time because they made a fair fist of trying to turn things around in the second period.
Goalkeeper Green made a fine save turning Anelka's long-range blast round a post, but as Bolton stepped up their barrage and the game became broken up by a series of spiteful tackles, it was no surprise to see the visitors cut West Ham's lead with 23 minutes to go.
Bobby Zamora, a willing workhorse for the first hour, was taken off soon after reacting to a challenge and being shown a yellow card.
But within three minutes of Harewood's arrival as substitute, veteran Speed struck for Bolton.
Noble lost the ball to Davies, who found Anelka, and the Frenchman's touch was ideally into Speed's stride for a scoring shot.
For a while Bolton's big boot threatened a way back, but the Hammers saw off the threat and Harewood was twice close to adding to the score late on.
Tevez's First GoalTevez for 2ndNoble adds a 3rdEvergreen Gary Speed gets a consolation
