West Ham 1 Bolton 2

Goals from Kevin Davies and Jack Wilshere inside the first 16 minutes put the Irons on the back foot and they were lucky not to be four or five down by the break.

A spectacular late goal from Alessandro Diamanti gave them some hope and substitute Junior Stanislas rattled the bar in injury time, although it would have been a travesty if the Hammers had taken anything from the match.

West Ham looked curiously lacklustre from the first whistle, something Zola blamed on having players away on international duty during the week.

But that didn't excuse the fact that Bolton looked far more up for the game, taking the play to the Hammers and dictating the play.

They earned their reward in the 10th minute, when Kevin Davies - who performed admirably all afternoon - met Chung-Yong Lee's inch perfect cross to plant a firm header past Green.

Things went from bad to worse six minutes later when James Tomkins inexcusably allowed himself to be robbed by Davies as he tried to shepherd the ball out for a goal kick.

The big forward crossed for Tamir Cohen to nod the ball back for Jack Wilshere to score from close range.

By now Bolton were rampant and Elmander wasted a chance to increase their lead when he hit the side netting after Green flapped at a corner.

West Ham were reliant on attacking on the break, and they fashioned their best chance in the 25th minute from such an attack.

Paul Robinson clipped the legs of Valon Behrami just outside the box. From the resulting free kick Diamanti forced a fabulous save from Jussi Jaaskelainen, who palmed the ball away but only as far as Guille Franco, whose follow up effort was also turned away by the Finnish keeper.

But it was Bolton who looked the more likely to add to the goal tally, with Wilshere guilty of missing a good chance on 37 minutes, and Lee also profligate in front of goal.

The Irons almost scored on the stroke of half-time when the ball ricocheted around the Bolton area before Zat Knight cleared it off the line.

The Trotters immediately went up the other end in a swift break to present Elmander with a glorious chance from eight yards but the striker blazed over the bar.

West Ham were booed off at half-time and Zola will undoubtedly have had some choice words in the dressing room.

They emerged more invigorated in the second half, and Kieron Dyer was introduced just two minutes after the restart to add some zip to midfield.

He almost scored with his first touch, too, but scooped his shot over the bar after Carlton Cole's clever flick on. It proved to be a portent of the midfielder's afternoon, as he proved ineffective in his first home appearance since early December.

The game began to get more physical and more niggly with players on both sides picking up bookings.

This was the undoing of Cohen when the Israeli midfielder was sent off on 70 minutes. His second bookable offence seemed harsh as his challenge on Parker on the halfway line was no worse than others that had gone unpunished earlier in the game.

A man to the good West Ham should have pressed home their advantage but seemed unable to find a way through Bolton's resolute defence.

The introduction of Stanislas pepped them up a bit and the young midfielder went close with an 82-minute free kick which flew just over the bar.

Diamanti finally pulled a goal back two minutes from time. He collected the ball just on the angle of the box, cut inside and hit a fierce left foot drive beyond the diving Jaaskelainen.

With five added minutes there was more urgency from the Hammers, but it was Bolton who almost killed off the game. Knight galloped down the right flank and his low centre was met by a stretching Davies, whose shot looped up and off the angle of bar and post to safety.

There was still time for Stanislas to unleash a fulminating drive against Wanderers' bar but an equaliser would have been rough justice on the visitors.

Defeat saw Bolton leapfrog West Ham in the Premier League table, and Zola was subdued after the game.

He said: "This game was a big lesson for everybody. We need to make sure we get the points somewhere else."

With visits to title-chasing Chelsea and Arsenal in their next two games Zola knows his side have to improve if they are to give themselves any hope of picking up crucial points in their survival fight.

West Ham: Green, Faubert (Dyer, 47), Spector, Upson, Tomkins, Parker, Kovac (Stanislas, 76), Behrami, Diamanti, Cole, Franco (Mido, 67). Unused subs: Stech, Ilan, Da Costa, Daprela.

Booked: Kovac, Diamanti

Goal: Diamanti 88

Bolton Wanderers: Jaaskelainen, Robinson, Knight, Ricketts, Muamba, Steinsson, Cohen, Lee, Wilshere (Taylor, 78), Elmander (Gardner, 74), Davies. Unused subs: Al Habsi, Riga, Klasnic, O'Brien, Weiss.

Booked: Jaaskelainen, Robinson, Muamba, Wilshere, Cohen.

Sent off: Cohen

Goals: Davies 10, Wilshere 16

Attendance: 33,824

Referee: Lee Probert