CHIEF Soccer writer Gordon Sharrock filed these reports from the Reebok Stadium.

14:46: SATURDAY, APRIL 19, 2003

BARCLAYCARD PREMIERSHIP

Wanderers v WEST HAM

SAM Allardyce counted one in and one out in the fitness front for this crucial survival showdown billed by many as the decisive game in the battle to beat the drop.

As expected, Bruno N'Gotty returned at right back after missing the 1-0 defeat at Chelsea with a calf strain, which meant a return to the subs' bench for the ever-reliable Anthony Barness. But Ricardo Gardner missed out when he failed a morning fitness test on an ankle injury.

That saw Simon Charlton restored to the left back berth after four games sidelined with a knee injury.

Lee Bowyer, unimpressive in last week's 2-2 home draw with Aston Villa, was missing from the Hammers' midfield. His place was taken by Edouard Cisse in a game which kicked off with the Londoners occupying the third relegation place, three points adrift of Wanderers.

Wanderers: Jaaskelainen; N'Gotty, Laville, Bergsson, Charlton; Frandsen, Campo, Okocha; Mendy, Pedersen, Djorkaeff. Subs: Nolan, Facey, Barness, Andre, Poole.

West Ham: James; Johnson, Repka, Pearce, Brevett; Lomas, Cole, Cisse, Sinclair; Kanoute, Defoe. Subs: Hutchison, Dailly, Ferdinand, Breen, Van Der Gouw.

Referee: Uriah Rennie (Sheffield).

15:58: WANDERERS 1, WEST HAM 0

Half-time

JAY-JAY Okocha - the man who has thanked God for the impact he has made during his brief stay at the Reebok - scored a goal made in heaven to give Wanderers the edge in a nail-biting survival battle.

The gifted Nigerian World Cup star stamped his own personal mark on a tense tussle in a blistering 38th minute counter-attack, which was prompted by Gudni Bergsson's perfectly-timed block on Jermain Defoe. Picking up the ball well inside his own half, Okocha fended off the challenge of Hammers' skipper Joe Cole before hitting an unstoppable shot past David James from 20 yards.

And he might have doubled Wanderers' advantage moments later if James had not spotted the danger and smothered his shot after Per Frandsen created another telling opening,

Okocha had earlier seen a rocket of a right-footer bounce back off the foot of the the post as Wanderers tried to get the upper hand and Your Djorkaeff also had James stretching when he played a clever one-two with Henrik Pedersen.

But this was by no means a one-way street. Glenn Roeder's Hammers were always a threat with Defoe, Steve Lomas and Freddie Kanoute all making inroads in what was looking an even contest until Okocha conjured up his own piece of magic.

17:03: WANDERERS 1, WEST HAM 0

WANDERERS survived a nail-biting second half to take a giant step towards securing their Premiership future at West Ham's expense.

Jay-Jay Okocha's 38th minute wonder goal settled it but the second 45 minutes were some of the most tense in recent times for Bolton fans as the Hammers dominated possession and laucnhed wave after wave of attacks on Jussi Jaaskelainen's goal.

But the keeper and his defenders maintained their composure and it was West Ham who lost theirs with defender Ian Pearce sent off in the last minute of normal time for a foul on Pierre-Yves Andre and a push on Gudni Bergsson.

There were wild scenes of celebration at the end as Wanderers opened up a six point lead over the Hammers, who stay third bottom with four games to play. But the moment was marred with angry players jostling as they left the field.

Wanderers: Jaaskelainen; N'Gotty, Laville, Bergsson, Charlton; Frandsen, Campo, Okocha; Mendy, Pedersen, Djorkaeff. Subs: Nolan for Djorkaeff 82 mins, Andre for Okoc ha 88 mins. Not used: Facey, Barness, Poole.

West Ham: James; Johnson, Repka, Pearce, Brevett; Lomas, Cole, Cisse, Sinclair; Kanoute, Defoe. Subs: Ferdinand for Cisse 64 mins. Not used: Hutchison, Dailly, Breen, Van Der Gouw.

Referee: Uriah Rennie (Sheffield).