WEST Ham manager Glenn Roeder is hoping the referee's report will clear his players after a violent brawl in Bolton Wanderers' crucial Premiership victory over West Ham United.

Hammers' captain Joe Cole allegedly punched Wanderers' defender Bernard Mendy as he left the pitch on Saturday.

Police have reported the England midfielder to the FA and have refused to rule out further action following more reports of a "number of incidents" in the tunnel after the game.

In one, 21-year-old Cole was seen allegedly "kicking out and damaging the tunnel awning", a police spokesman said.

Television cameras captured Cole walking off the pitch with a look of fury after the final whistle. A police officer then followed him down the tunnel.

West Ham's Rufus Brevitt may also face an investigation after an alleged "altercation" with a police officer who was bundled to the floor on the touchline.

Both Brevitt and Cole have now been reported by the police to the FA, who may take further action.

But West Ham manager Glenn Roeder, who has promised to take action against both Cole and defender Brevett if video evidence shows they were the guilty parties, is hoping the referee's report will clear his players.

Referee Uriah Rennie's match report on the tunnel bust-up at the Reebok Stadium is due to arrive at Football Association headquarters on Tuesday.

Hammers boss Roeder said: "I had a chat with a police officer after the game on Saturday and from where he was stationed inside the Reebok he could clearly see an altercation between Joe Cole and Bernard Mendy.

"I spoke to the referee after the game and he also was aware that there were problems when the players came together after the final whistle.

"However, he did not mention individual players but said he would be putting in a general report of what happened.

"Common-sense is the most important thing in these incidents and I just hope common-sense will be shown this time because it would be a huge blow if either of them was banned.

"We'll look at the video ourselves and see if we can see any evidence and we'll do whatever is necessary. We have a discipline code at the club and if anyone steps out of line they will be dealt with.

"It is very out of character for my players. I spoke to Joe and he gave me a picture of what he knows happened, and I asked Rufus and he told me exactly what happened in the tunnel as well.

"I am hoping that if the referee's report is a general one, rather than naming individuals, then both players will be okay."

Wanderers are refusing to comment until they have studied the police report.

However, the club said that a story in a Sunday newspaper that Andrew Dean, the club's promotions manager, had his shirt ripped in a post-match incident was untrue.

Supt Alan Greene, of Bolton Police, who was in charge of police operations at the match said afterwards: "I will be forwarding a report to the FA about the behaviour of some of the West Ham players and I will await their response."

Police say they were "making inquiries to establish the true facts".

A spokesman said they could not rule out the possibility that further action could be taken against the players.

The game -- which the Whites won 1-0 thanks to a stunning Jay-Jay Okocha strike -- was also marred by two mass brawls on the pitch.

In one of them, linesman Nigel Miller received an eye injury when he was caught by a flailing arm. After being seen by the Wanderers' doctor, he was taken to hospital for treatment. Mr Miller has said the incident was accidental and no further action will be taken.

The match was a crucial relegation game between the two teams as they battled for their Premiership lives.

Bolton's victory meant that, before today's games, West Ham trailed them by six points.