Having had little to cheer during his six-month tenure at the Reebok Stadium, Gary Megson could be forgiven for savouring the double fillip of a priceless victory and the public declaration of support from Kevin Nolan, the captain, after Bolton Wanderers rediscovered their former selves.

Derided on his appointment before being fêted as the “Ginger Mourinho” after an improved run, the manager has again been the subject of supporter discontent, along with Phil Gartside, the chairman, with the pair the targets of a prematch demonstration.

Dissent, though, was quietened by a display rooted in the Sam Allardyce era that ended a sequence of results that had brought only one point from eight matches. Such is the desire for hope at the Reebok Stadium that this win against a half-hearted West Ham United team was grasped as a turning point, but if Bolton are to survive they will have to turn form on its head in their four remaining matches.

Such has been the sense of foreboding that when Gartside appointed Megson in October last year, he did so partly because he was convinced that the former West Bromwich Albion manager could lead a promotion campaign next season. For now, the manager’s position appears secure, but if Bolton capitulate, that may change.

In Megson’s favour is the support he has from Nolan and Kevin Davies, two of the strongest characters in the dressing-room. “I think he’s had a lot of harsh and unfair criticism,” Nolan said. “He came into a tough job. After ten games we had five points. He did well when he first came in, but that was probably just papering over the cracks. It’s going to be a long-term thing. Sam Allardyce had seven years to rebuild this club. When he [Megson] first came, the fans wanted him out. I think the manager has stood up well. He’s got the full backing of the dressing-room.

“To keep chopping and changing the manager is not the right thing to do. You’ve seen how a lot of teams go into free-fall when that happens.”

Bolton’s prospects have not been helped by the yellow card for Davies, who will miss the next two matches. The forward was outstanding on Saturday, scoring the match-winner when he capitalised on West Ham’s failure to defend a corner in the 47th minute. For a club desperately short on strikers, Davies’s absence could be costly.

By comparison, Alan Curbishley’s problems are almost inconsequential, but the West Ham manager is the subject of growing criticism after his team’s lacklustre finish to the season. Anton Ferdinand’s early hamstring injury did not help, but there was no denying the appearance of a team counting down the games. How Megson would relish being in a similar position.

Bolton Wanderers (4-5-1): A Al Habsi 8 – G Steinsson 6, G Cahill 8, A O’Brien 7, J Samuel 5 – E-H Diouf 6, G McCann 7, I Campo 5, K Nolan 7, M Taylor 6 – K Davies 9. Substitutes not used: I Walker, S Giannakopoulos, A Teymourian, T Cohen, G Rasiak. Booked: Davies. Next: Middlesbrough (a).

West Ham United (4-5-1): R Green 5 – J Spector 5, M Upson 6, A Ferdinand (sub: J Paintsil, 3min 5), G McCartney 6 – R Zamora 4 (sub: F Sears, 67 6), S Parker 6, H Mullins 6, J Collison 5 (sub: C Cole, 50 5), L Boa Morte 3 – D Ashton 4. Substitutes not used: J Walker, J Tomkins. Booked: Paintsil. Next: Derby County (h).

Referee: P Walton
Attendance: 23,043