Televised Premier League Match: West Ham v Bolton

English Football League / Richard Walker / 03 October 2008 / Leave a Comment

Richard Walker is full of admiration for Zola's new-look West Ham, full of flair and goals. But Bolton will provide a completely different sort of challenge to what Zola has faced so far and the away side' s skipper Kevin Nolan could play a key role.

Gianfranco Zola versus Gary Megson. That's what the Premiership's all about, eh? A Mediterranean bloke with undoubted flair versus a dour bloke with ginger hair.

But enough of the near-ribald japery at the expense of Bolton's manager and down to the brass tacks of what might happen in front of the Sky Sports cameras at the Boleyn Ground this Sunday lunchtime.

For while I jest momentarily, it genuinely will be a case of beauty taking on the beast...in footballing terms at least.

Zola has made no secret of his desire to entertain - and, in fairness, the Hammers should have the squad to stay up comfortably while sticking to that mantra. Although it's not been said too loud round the Lostock area of Bolton, Megson's priority number one - and he knows it - is to repeat last season's feat in ensuring the confirmation of a Premier League berth come May.

I put it to you that Megson will set Wanderers up in their favourite 4-5-1 formation with Kevin Davies spear-heading the attack and that the Hammers will find it a lot tougher to break them down than either of their last two vanquished Premier League opponents - Fulham or Newcastle United.

In fact, I'll go as far as suggesting covering both Kevin Davies (about [12.0]) and Kevin Nolan (roughly [14.0]) to register the game's first goal. That's not to say I think Bolton will win necessarily - just that they're rather good at playing the frustration game. You may well disagree. If so, without the injured Dean Ashton, Carlton Cole has picked up the baton reasonably well but Mark Noble - a midfielder noted for darting, penalty box runs - might be more tempting at something like [12.5] to score first or roughly [5.5] To Score at any time.

It's been all smiles in London E6 since little the perma-smiling Italian arrived. The Carling Cup exit at Watford aside, it's two league games, two wins. This management lark's easy, eh Franco? Well no, actually, it's not. That's just the point; the Premiership is an unforgiving place with little margin for error and it's my opinion that the East Enders are in for a jolt at the weekend. The hosts are [1.89] to back for victory, The Draw's at [3.45] and Bolton's odds are [5.3]. I think you could lay West Ham - without fear of bankruptcy - to a [1.9] liability.

Intriguing one, the Over/Under 2.5 goals market for this match. I'm firmly in the Unders camp given my Megson-led synopsis, a [1.94] chance, but couldn't give put you off the [2.04] to back about an Overs scenario if West Ham score first and the game opens up accordingly.