COLE DISAPPOINTED WITH FIRST LEAGUE LOSS FOR ZOLA
Robert Green was culpable for all three of Bolton’s goals in their 3-1 win on Sunday at Upton Park, but manager Gianfranco Zola refused to make his goalkeeper a scapegoat.
It was the Italian’s first taste of defeat in the Premier League, but he backed Green to come back stronger, labelling him a “great goalkeeper”.
After half an hour, in a rare Bolton attack, the 28-year-old dropped a cross at the feet of Kevin Davies for the opening goal.
And he should have done better four minutes later but could only steer Gretar Rafn Steinsson’s drive into the path of onrushing defender Gary Cahill, who netted his first goal since his £5m summer move from Aston Villa.
Though Carlton Cole pulled a goal back for the home side after the interval, Matty Taylor’s quickly-taken free-kick, which made Green blush again, sealed the result with four minutes remaining. The Hammers have not managed to keep a clean sheet in their past 20 games, dating back to February.
Zola said of Green: “He is a great goalkeeper – he has all my trust, all of the team's trust. Everyone believes in him. It has been a bad day, but I am sure next game he is going to save two penalties – football is like that.”
Striker Cole, who, unlike Green, was not called up to the England squad, believes that the international break will be a good opportunity for the team to dispel the stench of disappointment in the dressing room before they travel to Hull on October 19.
“The boys are very disappointed and the atmosphere is very subdued,” Cole, 24, said. “We just want to be positive now until the next game.
“We know what we have to do to improve – it is not always rosy in the Premier League and we need to battle on and get our next win under our belts. We will bounce back and it will be a good two weeks for us to clear our heads and get focussed on the Hull game.”
Robert Green was culpable for all three of Bolton’s goals in their 3-1 win on Sunday at Upton Park, but manager Gianfranco Zola refused to make his goalkeeper a scapegoat.
It was the Italian’s first taste of defeat in the Premier League, but he backed Green to come back stronger, labelling him a “great goalkeeper”.
After half an hour, in a rare Bolton attack, the 28-year-old dropped a cross at the feet of Kevin Davies for the opening goal.
And he should have done better four minutes later but could only steer Gretar Rafn Steinsson’s drive into the path of onrushing defender Gary Cahill, who netted his first goal since his £5m summer move from Aston Villa.
Though Carlton Cole pulled a goal back for the home side after the interval, Matty Taylor’s quickly-taken free-kick, which made Green blush again, sealed the result with four minutes remaining. The Hammers have not managed to keep a clean sheet in their past 20 games, dating back to February.
Zola said of Green: “He is a great goalkeeper – he has all my trust, all of the team's trust. Everyone believes in him. It has been a bad day, but I am sure next game he is going to save two penalties – football is like that.”
Striker Cole, who, unlike Green, was not called up to the England squad, believes that the international break will be a good opportunity for the team to dispel the stench of disappointment in the dressing room before they travel to Hull on October 19.
“The boys are very disappointed and the atmosphere is very subdued,” Cole, 24, said. “We just want to be positive now until the next game.
“We know what we have to do to improve – it is not always rosy in the Premier League and we need to battle on and get our next win under our belts. We will bounce back and it will be a good two weeks for us to clear our heads and get focussed on the Hull game.”
Labels: Aston Villa, Bolton, Carlton Cole, Gianfranco Zola, Premier League, Robert Green
