12th April , 2008

KB: KUMB; HM Hammers Mad; ST Sunday Times; SE Sunday Express; SM Sunday Mirror; OB Observer;
DM Daily Mirror; GU Guardian; TM Times; HD Hammers Diary; SK Sky; DE Daily Express

Sky Sports: West Ham manager Alan Curbishley felt his side received very little help from the referee during the 1-0 defeat at Bolton. In spite of Bolton having two goals disallowed, the Hammers' boss felt official Peter Walton let Wanderers impose their physical style on the contest. The visitors endured a torrid afternoon against Kevin Davies as they went down to another away defeat. "It's a difficult game when you come here (to the Reebok). All you ask for is a bit of protection but we didn't get a lot," said Curbishley. "Whenever you play Bolton it's difficult; you complain to officials but it falls on deaf ears. I'm disappointed with a few things. You know what to expect when you come. They work hard here but they get away with professional things that we all see but referees don't."

Hammers Mad: Anaemic West Ham needed a transfusion of energy and Carlton Cole's appearance for Jack Collison brought about a reaction. "You don't know what you're doing!" taunted Hammers fans to boss Alan Curbishley. But within minutes Gary Cahill cleared Luis Boa Morte's left-footer off the line while Al-Habsi tipped Ashton's overhead effort on to the bar and away for a corner. Parker's shot was also bound for the net, but Bolton held on and move on to the Riverside to face Middlesbrough as they bid to stay up.

Sunday Times: Bolton were dominant in the opening stages and always quick to prevent West Ham from stringing together too many passes. “It was the pressure they put us under,” added Curbishley. “Bolton put in a terrific amount of effort.” Such endeavour had already allowed Davies a header on target that Scott Parker was forced to clear in the first half, but it was a save by Green inside the opening minute of the second from the same striker which led to the changing of the whole atmosphere of the afternoon. Bolton won a corner on their right and, as the ball swung into the near post, Jonathan Spector, the West Ham right-back, opted to go in front of Green to clear. He failed to do so though, allowing Davies to pounce in style. “It was a typical Bolton goal,” said Curbishley. “They put lots of balls in there.” But it was West Ham who then surged away and should have equalised. They have now not won for four matches, and Luis Boa Morte blew a chance to draw them level as Gretar Steinsson cleared off the line. As the ball came back in, Dean Ashton’s overhead kick forced Ali Al Habsi, the Bolton goalkeeper, to make a superb save, turning the shot onto the bar. (13th April 2008)

Daily Mirror: West Ham went out with a whimper. Alan Curbishley is finding it hard to cope with their injuries and the fact they are in a mid-table Dead Calm zone. The only point of these last few games is to blood some of the youngsters, but even that went wrong for him. Jack Collison started in midfield but was quiet and Curbs subbed him just after half-time. Those noisy Hammers fans turned on him for that but he explained: "I feel sorry for him. He didn't get the chance to express himself and I felt I had to change it . Jack was disappointed but he will get over it. "I was going to send young Jack Tomkins on when Anton Ferdinand came off, but it would have been too much to ask with Jack in midfield." Young Freddie Sears was the shaft of bright light in an otherwise dull show. He deserves a proper run. (Alan Nixon, 14th April 2008).

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