Hammers slump to four-goal defeat

Bolton 4 West Ham 0

Gary Speed marked a record 500th Premier League appearance today by having a hand in three of Bolton's goals.

The 37-year-old veteran was rightly given a standing ovation when he came off with two minutes to go after a midfield master class.

Speed was the driving force behind a comfortable victory secured by goals from Kevin Davies (2), El-Hadji Diouf and Nicolas Anelka.

West Ham have now lost eight out of nine matches on the road and manager Alan Pardew must be concerned about their plight.

Bolton bossed the game after a poor run themselves that had seen the team fail to score in five out of seven league matches

Anelka set the tone after 10 minutes when he had the home fans on their feet.

He latched on to a pass from El-Hadji Diouf 25 yards out but his effort cleared the bar.

Then the £8million buy worked a clever opening for himself only to scuff his shot wide of the post.

Anelka was coming more into the game and tried to release Davies four minutes later but his cross found the arms of Hammers goalkeeper Robert Green.

Bolton made the breakthrough after 17 minutes and Speed marked his record appearance by having a hand in the goal.

The Welshman's header found Diouf and he clipped the ball back into the area with Davies applying the finishing touch.

Bolton kept up the pressure and Green did well to block Kevin Nolan's effort in the 27th minute after Anelka had carved out the opening.

Davies was growing in confidence and flicked on a throw-in from Pedersen but Green was able to make the save.

West Ham were struggling to make an impact and Matthew Etherington tried to pick out Dailly at the back post with a free kick in the 36th minute.

However Davies showed he can defend as well as attack and got in a crucial header.

Diouf squandered a good chance of adding to Bolton's lead in the 40th minute when Henrik Pedersen swung in a cross from the left.

The Senegal international escaped his marker but only succeeded in sending his header from close range over the bar.

Referee Howard Webb took immediate steps to quell a dispute between Campo and West Ham's Nigel Reo-Coker at the start of the second half by booking both players.

Bolton made it 2-0 in the 51st minute with Davies again on target.

The goal came about after James Collins had deflected Anelka's shot to safety.

Speed swung in the corner and Campo headed the ball on. Davies reacted instantly to knock it past Green.

He wheeled away in delight after another emphatic finish that put Bolton in the driving seat.

Marlon Harewood almost pulled a goal back a minute later when he got clear in the area.

However he dragged his effort across the face of the goal with Jussi Jaaskelainen out of position .

Bolton looked well in control at this stage with Davies anxious to get a hat-trick.

They extended their lead in the 77th minute with a marvellous individual goal from Diouf.

He weaved his way into the penalty area, leaving a couple of players in his wake, before clipping a right foot shot beyond Green.

A minute later Anelka got in on the act with another clever finish to make it 4-0 after Speed had slipped the ball into his path.

Campo then hit the post in stoppage time with the Hammers again on the back foot.

West Ham were outclassed and are facing a long, hard winter despite new investment.