Davies gives Bolton's survival bid fresh life

BOLTON, England (AFP) — Bolton's bid to avoid the drop received a welcome boost on Saturday with a 1-0 home win over West Ham which left them two points away from safety.

Kevin Davies' goal early in the second half left the Trotters, thrashed 4-0 by Aston Villa last weekend, still third from the foot of the table, but up to 29 points with fourth-from bottom Birmingham on 31.

Scrapping for their Premier league lives Bolton came out of the blocks fighting with only Jonathan Spector's clearance off the line denying Kevin Davies' early attempt.

West Ham had another big scare in the 18th minute when Jlloyd Samuel found Matthew Taylor with his pass from the left only for Taylor's shot to go directly to goalkeeper Robert Green.

With the visitors on the run El Hadji Diouf fired in a corner from the left ...