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West Ham to battle it out with Bolton Wanderers
Chadwell Heath, May 11: West Ham United and Bolton Wanderers have been preparing for their vital Premier League relegation battle at the Reebok Stadium.
Chadwell Heath, May 11: West Ham United and Bolton Wanderers have been preparing for their vital Premier League relegation battle at the Reebok Stadium.
Caretaker manager Trevor Brooking is urging West Ham United to make one more show of pride in Sunday's (May 11) final relegation battle at Birmingham City.
Third from bottom as the premier league season draws to a close, West Ham are level on 41 points with Bolton Wanderers but trail Sam Allardyce's side on goal difference.
Brooking, who has guided West Ham to victory in his two games since taking over from convalescing Glenn Roeder, told reporters on Friday: "More than anything we want to try and finish having done our bit and get the three points. I know the frustration is it's out of our hands, but that's what it's been for the last couple of weeks and you just hope that there's just that little twist in the tail in the end."
Bolton, the only other team who could join Sunderland and West Bromwich Albion in the first division next season, will have home advantage against Middlesbrough in their final game.
Brooking is hoping the spirit his side has shown in the last games will continue: "We've got our last three victories in the last 20 minutes of the last three matches, so you've got to have that belief that you can still do it whatever the situation is in our game and theirs. There could be a late little flurry, an error, a chance scorned that turns it round," he said.
Bolton manager Sam Allardyce is not expecting an easy game against Middlesbrough, even though the Teesiders have nothing to play for: "Of course Middlesbrough not needing anything doesn't mean they're going to come here and lie down. I think it will be a very difficult game for us and I think we have to make sure we get our performance right and hopefully that we be enough to get us the victory we need so we don't have to depend on what Birmingham are doing against West Ham at St Andrews."
Wanderers will drop into the first division if they fail to match West Ham's result against Birmingham in their game against Middlesbrough at the Reebok Stadium.
Nigerian midfielder Jay Jay Okocha says he will leave Bolton if they are relegated from the English premier league on Sunday.
Bolton have managed to keep pace with West Ham's recent revival following a run of impressive results, including coming from two goals down to snatch a draw against Arsenal.
But it was Okocha's stunning long-range strike to secure victory over West Ham last month that could prove crucial. Okocha was a surprise recruit to Bolton's side when he joined on a free transfer last July.
He struggled to make an impact before Christmas, but has since linked up well with Youri Djorkaeff and has been the most influential player in Sam Allardyce's side.
Bureau Report
Brooking is hoping the spirit his side has shown in the last games will continue: "We've got our last three victories in the last 20 minutes of the last three matches, so you've got to have that belief that you can still do it whatever the situation is in our game and theirs. There could be a late little flurry, an error, a chance scorned that turns it round," he said.
Bolton manager Sam Allardyce is not expecting an easy game against Middlesbrough, even though the Teesiders have nothing to play for: "Of course Middlesbrough not needing anything doesn't mean they're going to come here and lie down. I think it will be a very difficult game for us and I think we have to make sure we get our performance right and hopefully that we be enough to get us the victory we need so we don't have to depend on what Birmingham are doing against West Ham at St Andrews."
Wanderers will drop into the first division if they fail to match West Ham's result against Birmingham in their game against Middlesbrough at the Reebok Stadium.
Nigerian midfielder Jay Jay Okocha says he will leave Bolton if they are relegated from the English premier league on Sunday.
Bolton have managed to keep pace with West Ham's recent revival following a run of impressive results, including coming from two goals down to snatch a draw against Arsenal.
But it was Okocha's stunning long-range strike to secure victory over West Ham last month that could prove crucial. Okocha was a surprise recruit to Bolton's side when he joined on a free transfer last July.
He struggled to make an impact before Christmas, but has since linked up well with Youri Djorkaeff and has been the most influential player in Sam Allardyce's side.
Bureau Report