West Ham United went top of the Championship table after an entertaining 3-2 win at Bolton Wanderers on Tuesday night.
The first half was a swashbuckling affair with the scores locked at 2-2 at the break. Jarrod Bowen fired the visitors in front early on before Bolton turned the game on its head. First, Ethan Erhahon levelled matters before Ruben Rodrigues tucked away a penalty after Kyle Walker-Peters made a clumsy foul on debutant Kyliane Dong.
Nuno Espirito Santo’s men hit back not long after, with defender Konstantinos Mavropanos heading home to make it 2-2.
A breathless encounter then settled down for most of the second half until skipper Bowen popped up with what proved to be the winner on 77 minutes, when a tame attempt somehow squeezed in past goalkeeper Gavin Bazunu at his near-post.
The Hammers have now won their last three league games and go top on goal difference, just ahead of Swansea City. That’s after the Swans suffered a first setback of the season in losing 3-1 at upwardly mobile Southampton.
The Saints, unbeaten since the opening day, are now joint-top scorers in the division after strikes from Finn Azaz, Cyle Larin and Leo Scienza rendered Zan Vipotnik’s second half penalty a mere consolation.
At the other end of the table, Burnley remain without a league win since relegation from the Premier League. The Clarets – without new signing Jamie Vardy as he served a one-game ban hanging over from his Serie A spell at Cremonese – had to make do with a 1-1 draw at Wrexham.
The only team below Burnley in the table is Preston North End, who suffered fifth defeat in six games this season as they lost 2-1 at Watford. Paul Heckingbottom’s men led through an early Callum Lang strike but conceded twice midway through the second half as Watford got back to winning ways.
Elsewhere on Tuesday, Sheffield United came from behind to beat Blackburn Rovers 2-1 whilst Cardiff and Stoke played out a 1-1 draw that leaves the Welsh side still without a win since their promotion back to the Championship.
Wednesday night sees three further fixtures take place. Derby County host West Bromwich, Norwich welcome Birmingham – the only team still unbeaten in the second tier – and QPR travel to London neighbours Charlton Athletic.
