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English Premier League Preview: West Ham v Bolton [Fri Aug 26th, 2005]
Consolidation was the name of the game for West Ham on their return to the Premiership, and in their first two games the club have achieved just that.
The mantra of many of the newly-promoted teams is about winning your home games and getting what you can away.
In their opening two games, West Ham have beaten Blackburn - a side likely to be similarly placed to themselves at the end of the season - and taken a well-earned point away to Newcastle.
Manager Alan Pardew will be happy with the start. His team are expected to win many friends this season with their attacking style, but while it may prove successful in certain home matches, they’ll need to be careful against some of the league’s slicker counter-attacking units.
This week, Pardew added Jeremie Aliadiere to his squad after the player grew frustrated with his lack of first-team chances at Celtic. This is a key season for the Frenchman to see if he has what it takes to be a success in the Premiership after limited opportunities at Arsenal.
Bolton bagged their first win of the season on Wednesday, when goals from El-Hadji Diouf and Stelios Giannakopoulos handed them a deserved 2-0 win over a poor Newcastle side at the Reebok Stadium.
The victory will have come as a relief to manager Sam Allardyce after seeing his side beaten 1-0 at home by Everton on Sunday. In that match, the Trotters were caught cold at the back after dominating for long periods.
LATEST TEAM NEWS
West Ham: goalkeeper Roy Carroll still has a back problem but should be fit. Aliadiere may take his place on the bench, while Paul Konshesky is available after having his red card against Newcastle rescinded.
Bolton: Allardyce is without Radhi Jaidi (hamstring), but Bruno N’Gotty returns from suspension. Ricardo Gardner will have a late fitness test on a hamstring injury. Hidetoshi Nakata is set to start on the bench.
PLAYERS TO WATCH
Teddy Sheringham (West Ham): the evergreen former England front-man should be a huge asset to Pardew this season, even if his 37 years mean he doesn’t play all the games.
El-Hadji Diouf (Bolton): the Senegal international was a constant menace to Newcastle full-back Stephen Carr on Wednesday night.
PROBABLE LINE-UPS
West Ham: Carroll, Repka, Ferdinand, Gabbidon, Konchesky, Benayoun, Mullins, Reo-Coker, Etherington, Harewood, Sheringham
Bolton: Jaaskelainen, Hunt, N’Gotty, Ben Haim, Pedersen, Nolan, Speed, Okocha, Giannakopoulos, Davies, Diouf
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