Jay-Jay's goal-den wonder

Supporters of Eintracht Frankfurt are indeed privileged to have witnessed the Nigerian World Cup star's all-time favourite, which signalled his arrival in the Bundesliga a decade ago.

In terms of individual skill, mesmerising five players before flashing a shot past Oliver Khan - Germany's top keeper - the 1992-3 vintage evidently takes some beating. But when a player of Okocha's ability and experience can freely admit to being tortured by the pressure of a game and still produce such a spellbinding piece of individual skill, those fortunate to have been at the Reebok for Saturday's survival showdown can consider themselves equally honoured.

"The goal in Germany was a bit better but this one was a beauty as well," the new Reebok idol acknowledged as Wanderers claimed what could turn out to be the decisive victory in their battle for Premiership survival.

Okocha's admission that even he was affected by the nervous tension both before and during the game speaks volumes for the significance of this ninth and, probably, most important win of the season.

"The pressure and tension of the game was like nothing I've experienced before," said the Olympic gold medal winner and veteran of three World Cup Finals.

"You can't enjoy a game like that. It's a game where you have to be very awake, aware of every situation. One mistake can cost you so much.

"We were very nervous throughout the whole week before the game. We were finding it difficult to keep the smiles on our faces because, having lost three very important points at Chelsea, we were finding it difficult to get our motivation back.

"We all knew how important this game was for us so it has been a nervous time.

"I would say it was the most difficult for us this season because whenever I went into town, people were talking about the game. That made me realise how important this game was and I am glad we have got it behind us now and that we got the necessary victory that I think we deserved.

"I think we can play with less fear now. We have done ourselves a great favour but we can play better.

"This has given us a massive boost and hopefully we can carry on from here for the rest of the season."

For the time being at least, Wanderers are keeping the champagne on ice but anyone doubting that a six point lead and superior goal difference is not enough to validate their survival claim need look no further than the wreckage West Ham left behind them as they headed back to London. The Football Association and Greater Manchester Police will investigate the incidents at the end when the customary handshakes and shirt-swapping gave way to fist-flying, police-barging and tunnel trashing!

The Hammers clearly lost their cool when they realised they had effectively lost the fight to retain their Premiership status. And it didn't need Ian Pearce's wild challenge on Pierre-Yves Andre and his inexplicable push on Gudni Bergsson or the post-match antics of Joe Cole and Rufus Brevett to show precisely how much damage Okocha had inflicted with his first half matchwinner. The sight of West Ham players - Cole, Jermain Defoe and Steve Lomas stand accused - dramatically throwing themselves to the ground under practically any challenge in and around the penalty area smacked of desperation. And if the petulant Cole, already booked for dissent, had snapped once more at referee Rennie he would surely not have been around to hear the final whistle.

Yet, had Defoe taken the chance that came his way 15 minutes from time, Glenn Roeder might not have sounded so desperate at the end as he spat out his words of defiance and insisted that there were still points to be gained.

Not on this evidence there aren't.

Conversely, Wanderers are genuinely in the mood, as Sam Allardyce puts it, to go onwards and upwards.

Thanks to the skills of Okocha and the determination of a defence which has been remarkably reinforced by the addition of Florent Laville, they have cleared their biggest hurdle and are in confident stride going into the final furlong.

They had to endure almost constant second half pressure, wasting countless opportunities to ease the nail-biting tension and, quite frankly, inviting trouble. It seemed almost impossible that the Hammers, with all their attacking talent, would go 45 minutes without scoring and as the clock ticked down so the fear of another last-gasp equaliser intensified.

But West Ham's entire season has been all about their failure to live up to their high expectations ("too good to go down") and the fact that Jussi Jaaskelainen did not have a shot to save summed up their sorry situation.

They took the game to Wanderers and threatened time and again but after young Defoe had snatched at his chance and missed the target completely, Simon Charlton and Laville threw themselves into desperate blocks on Freddie Kanoute and Pearce to fire their frustrations.

The Hammers had to make a fight of it but they could find no answer to Okocha's goal that gave Wanderers a grip on the game in the lead up to half-time. He had earlier hit the post and seen Youri Djorkaeff denied by James. He might have had a second himself if James had not rushed out to dive at his feet in a race for Per Frandsen's carefully-weighted pass while Bernard Mendy had reason to curse the England keeper when he sprinted from halfway to get in an angled right-footer that might just have crept under the bar!

Wanderers have played better, they will readily acknowledge that, but four clean sheets in five games has given them a confidence no Bolton side has ever displayed in the Premiership.

Yet, if they are to stay in the Premiership next season they must - regardless of their financial situation - invest in the quality striker Allardyce desperately craves. The £40 million debt burden needs to be addressed but, as they have shown with the investment in Okocha, Djorkaeff and the irrepressible Ivan Campo, there is no substitute for quality ... and quality costs.