Nolan leads from the front for Bolton

So that's why Little Sam got the sack.

Buried under a pile of Bolton players deep in added time at Upton Park, the club's captain finally emerged with a triumphant salute after scoring their dramatic equaliser.

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It was a salute for the 300 or so Bolton fanatics who made the trip to London, for new manager Gary Megson and, no doubt, in the direction of Little Sam.

Bolton are still in trouble — big style — but Nolan remains the heartbeat of a team second from bottom of the Premier League.

Left out of the side in Lee's final game in charge against Chelsea, Nolan went charging to the rescue yesterday.

The midfielder's goal, adroitly steered beyond West Ham keeper Robert Green in the 93rd minute, closed the gap between the teams scrapping for their lives at the foot of the Premier League.

They will need more men like him in the months ahead but this result, more than anything, gives Megson's team hope.

Bolton have not won in the Premier League since August 25 when they beat Reading 3-0 at the Reebok, and next weekend's visit of Middlesbrough promises to be the mother of all battles.

They have gone back to basics under Megson, launching it long and relying on lone striker Kevin Davies to rub a few faces in the dirt.

It is ugly, but those methods earned Allardyce's team a place in the UEFA Cup.

Megson said: "Every one of the 11 who started the game were signed by Sam Allardyce and I think we have to go back to the way they play a bit.

"You can wave the white flag or you can keep going and we have decided to keep going. I am trying to fit round pegs in round holes."

By restoring Gary Speed, Ivan Campo and Nolan to the team, the Bolton manager has done just that.

Campo looked like he was hiding the match ball under his shirt when the sides walked out ahead of kick-off, but he is the steadying influence in the Bolton side.

Speed, too, could have a part to play in their revival and Nolan, noted for his goals in the Allardyce era, will always be a nuisance with his surging runs from midfield.

Megson said: "Footballers play for their families first and their club second. Managers come and go, but we have to be happy with a point in the circumstances.

"We created chances and it was a fair result. We couldn't have done any more."

Megson, with his percentage football, is a man with a plan.

Bolton drew against Aston Villa in his first Premier League game in charge, were beaten by Manchester City in the Carling Cup and have secured a precious point at West Ham.

In time, they may look back on this result as the turning point of their season, despite losing Nicky Hunt with a suspected dislocated shoulder.

So, too, could West Ham manager Alan Curbishley.

His side went in front when George McCartney scored for the first time in his club career by hooking a right-foot shot past the dive of Bolton goalkeeper Jussi Jaaskelainen.

Incredibly, West Ham's 17 goals in League and cup this season have all been scored by players from the British Isles.

A Brit of all right, you might say. Bolton looked around for someone to show some stomach for the next 70 minutes — but West Ham were on a mission.

Victory would have left the Hammers 10th in the table and they had chances to increase their lead.

Nolberto Solano's first-half effort was beaten away by Jaaskelainen, who came to the rescue again when Carlton Cole connected with a Matthew Etherington cross.

Instead, they allowed Bolton back into the game.

They hit the post and bar before Nolan arrived in the area to convert Lubomir Michalik's downward header with a delicate flick of his right foot.

Curbishley said: "We should have seen the game out and run down the clock until the 94 minutes were up.

"We need that bit of professionalism in those areas.

"With 90 seconds left, we had four or five players in their area.

"I don't know why we were doing that because we never looked like getting a second goal."

Curbishley threw away his water bottle in disgust at Nolan's strike and that summed up his day.

Without question, West Ham threw this one away.

WEST HAM (4-3-3): Green 6; Neill 6, Gabbidon 6, Upson 6, McCartney 7; Mullins 7 (Spector 50min, 6), Solano 7, Bowyer 6 (Pantsil 85); Boa Morte 6, Cole 6 (Camara 72, 5), Etherington 7. Booked: Bowyer, Pantsil.

BOLTON (4-5-1): Jaaskelainen 6; Hunt 5 (McCann 81), O'Brien 6, Meite 5 (Michalik 46, 6), Gardner 6; Guthrie 6, Speed 7 (Samuel 78), Campo 7, Nolan 7, Diouf 5; Davies 7. Booked: Hunt.

Man of the match: Kevin Nolan.

Referee: Peter Walton.