Megson delight as Trotters triumph - 7M sport

Megson delight as Trotters triumph

Posted Tuesday, September 22, 2009 by PA

Bolton manager Gary Megson could not hide his delight after watching his side come from a goal down to beat West Ham 3-1 after extra time in their Carling Cup third round tie at the Reebok Stadium.

Wanderers trailed to Herita Ilunga's first Hammers goal on the hour but turned things around with Kevin Davies' header five minutes from the end of normal time and Gary Cahill's superb strike early into the additional period, with Johan Elmander's first goal since December rounding things off.

"There are a huge number of positives to come out of the game: Johan has scored his first goal for a long time, the crowd were superb, Kevin Davies scored and led the line brilliantly and we have come back from a goal down to beat a good side 3-1 and deservedly so," said the Bolton boss.

"Everyone tells me we haven't won the first three [league] games and we have big issues but no-one mentions we have played five, won three, drawn one and lost to Liverpool with 10 men when we were winning.

"If we have got problems then there are a few clubs up and down this country that have got as many problems if not more.

"People talk about character of teams, players and individuals and I don't think we could show more character - not just tonight but in the circumstances we have been playing."

Megson was particularly pleased for Elmander, a #10million signing in the summer of 2008, had ended a barren spell of 22 matches stretching back to December.

"Johan was so desperate to score he was snatching at it," added the Wanderers boss.

"If he takes his time, with the quality he has, I'm sure he will finish more but that [goal] will do him the world of good.

"Everyone is concerned about his lack of goals, none more so than Johan.

"He wants to do well and if his personality was different and he thought 'Stuff it, I can't be bothered', he probably would have scored before now.

"But because he gets so intense and is so determined to score at times he is not relaxed.

"I really do hope that goal relaxes him a bit because the arrival of Ivan Klasnic (on loan from Nantes) will put both him and Kevin Davies under pressure.

"But I'm not ready to give up on Johan Elmander and no-one at the club is either."

West Ham manager Gianfranco Zola was left to rue his side's poor finishing and lapse in concentration at set-pieces.

"It has been a long and disappointing night," said the Italian.

"With the way things were going on the pitch I was not expecting that. I was waiting for the second goal to come at any moment - it was very disappointing.

"When you build up a lot of chances you have to do better and when you play teams like Bolton you can expect a corner can cause problems.

"There are moments in the game when you have to raise your attention and deal with those situations better."

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