Green’s howler gives Bolton a lift

STEVE CLARKE believes Robert Green needs to play “the game of his life” this weekend after the goalkeeper’s blunder against Bolton led to a defeat that leaves West Ham second bottom of the Barclays Premier League.

With the game balanced at 1-1, Green inexplicably dropped Gary Cahill’s bouncing effort in the 77th minute, allowing Ivan Klasnic to finish with ease.

The error proved crucial for the Hammers, who eventually went down 3-1 at the Reebok Stadium and are now 19th, two points adrift of Bolton and Wolves.

Clarke, West Ham’s assistant manager, admitted afterwards Green’s mistake was the turning point in the match and said the beleaguered England goalkeeper needs a stand-out performance in Sunday’s fixture against Chelsea to hit back at his critics.

“We just got back in the game, it looked as if we were in control and Rob has unfortunately made a mistake and it is something that we couldn’t come back from,” said Clarke.

“Football is all about mistakes. He has made a mistake but he is a man and he’ll deal with it.

“He’ll recover and the best thing he can do is go out on Sunday and have the game of his life. That is what he has to do – he has to respond.”

Bolton had gone ahead through Lee, only for West Ham to hit back through Alessandro Diamanti.

But Klasnic’s gift from Green and a third by Cahill sealed three points for Wanderers, who moved above the visitors into 17th place.

The Hammers are now second from bottom and also suffered a blow when injury-plagued midfielder Kieron Dyer had to be substituted midway through the first period.

Half-time did not seem to interrupt Bolton’s rhythm.

Lee badly miscued a volley after the ball had dropped to him in the area in the 50th minute and Cohen did better shortly afterwards having connected with Knight’s header, but the Israeli saw his shot deflected for a corner.

West Ham lent some creativity to the game on the hour. Diamanti lofted the ball to Guillermo Franco, who almost worked his way into a one-on-one with Jaaskelainen before Knight made an excellent intervention.

Bolton’s earlier supremacy was finally rewarded in the 64th minute when Klasnic split the West Ham defence perfectly with a through-ball that left an easy finish for Lee.

But the lead lasted just five minutes as Franco found Collison in the Bolton box, who teed up Diamanti to lash the ball past Jaaskelainen.

It looked as if the hosts might be left to rue their earlier profligacy in front of goal, but it was an error from Green that let them off the hook.

The impressive Lee was involved again, pulling the ball back to the edge of the box for Cahill, whose bouncing effort seemed harmless enough.

But the England goalkeeper blundered and Klasnic snaffled up the chance. Substitute Ricardo Gardner’s corner found Cahill late on at the far post to head home and wrap up the points.

BOLTON: Jaaskelainen, Steinsson, Cahill, Knight, Robinson, Lee, Muamba, Cohen, Taylor (Gardner 76), Kevin Davies, Klasnic (Basham 82).

WEST HAM: Green, Faubert, Gabbidon, Tomkins, Ilunga, Dyer (Stanislas 21), Parker, Kovac, Collison (Da Costa 87), Franco, Diamanti.

Referee: Andre Marriner (W Midlands).