Police investigation follows Okocha hammer blow

Bolton Wanderers 1 West Ham United

If, as now seems somewhere between likely and certain, this defeat seals West Ham's relegation fate, they can at least claim to have gone down fighting, if not during a largely ineffectual performance in the match, then in its fiery aftermath.

A game of seven bookings ended with the sending off of Ian Pearce and then featured an unscheduled extra round of hostilities in the centre circle after the final whistle.

West Ham's frustrations boiled over, with their captain, Joe Cole, the most prominent thrower of punches in a display of petulance reported to have continued after he stormed down the tunnel.

The angry scenes, the subject of police investigations last night, overshadowed how a vital match had been won and lost. Jay-Jay Okocha virtually ensured Bolton's survival and further enhanced his folk-hero status in the town with a magnificent goal seven minutes before half-time.

It had sprung from danger at the other end, with Jermain Defoe and Edouard Cissé both having shots blocked. Okocha broke away from deep, stumbled in midfield, but steadied himself to fire in an unstoppable shot from outside the area between two defenders and high past the helpless David James.

"It was a game decided by a bit of brilliance and a great, great finish,'' said Wanderers' manager, Sam Allardyce. "JayJay came up trumps for us again and he was the difference between both sides."

The victory gives Bolton a six-point lead over West Ham ­ and a better goal difference ­ with four games to play. Mathematically, they are not safe yet, but Okocha's goals and all-round influence have been the biggest factor in their escape. His goal yesterday could send two other teams into the Nationwide League; it has already condemned West Brom and may do the same to the Hammers.

On a day when nerves and a swirling wind made controlled football difficult, West Ham had shown early signs of promise, especially when Defoe attacked the left side of Bolton's defence, but early chances went begging.

Bolton produced the two best chances before the breakthrough, Okocha hitting the outside of the post after more extravagant footwork and Youri Djorkaeff having a shot well saved by James after a lovely run and an exchange of passes with Henrik Pedersen.

Bolton may have increased their lead before the break ­ Okocha's shot was smothered by James, who also did well to tip Bernard Mendy's angled drive over the bar.

Jussi Jaaskelainen, destined to celebrate his 28th birthday with his fourth clean sheet in five games, was, by comparison, almost unemployed. West Ham's best chance of salvaging the game came and went 12 minutes from time, when Kanouté's flick sent Defoe through, but he shot wide from an inviting position.

"We had good chances early on, but he's really disappointed not to have stuck that one away,'' said West Ham's manager, Glenn Roeder. Then, as time ran out, Pearce was guilty of a late tackle to up-end the Bolton substitute, Pierre-Yves André. It was worthy of a red card in itself but just to be on the safe side he pushed over Gudni Bergsson as Bolton's players arrived to remonstrate.

Roeder was on his way down the tunnel when the afternoon erupted again on the whistle. Rufus Brevett and the other Bolton substitute, Kevin Nolan, were one troublespot before Cole lost his cool and swung punches at Mendy, for a foul on whom he had earlier been booked.

"It was a fiery game and I think the frustration at the end was really understandable," said Roeder. The police who discussed the incident with the referee Uriah Rennie after the game might come to a different conclusion.

Allardyce rejected premature celebrations ­ a derby against Blackburn looms tomorrow ­ but he knows his side are as good as safe.

Okocha's quality will ultimately be the more abiding memory of the game than the display of bad temper that followed. "From start to finish, he was the best man on the field," said Allardyce. "You might have expected a game like that to be decided by a mistake, rather than a fantastic piece of individuality."

Bolton Wanderers 1 West Ham United 0
Okocha 38

Half-time: 1-0 Attendance: 27,160