Kevin Davies had managed to hit the back of the net only once since the beginning of December, but when the ball span his way a minute into the second half, he gave no indication of being a struggling striker at a club struggling for survival. Back went his right leg and with a ferocious thump, Bolton Wanderers’ relegation fight was back on.

Not that their home supporters could breathe easily. Within minutes, West Ham United hit the crossbar and, between then and referee Peter Walton blowing the final whistle, there were anxious moments in abundance. But who said it was going to be straightforward?

An afternoon that began with 100 or so Bolton protesters standing outside the main entrance, calling for the dismissal of the board because of the current plight of the club, ended with hardly a home fan leaving until the end. There are four games to go and each remaining match could have this same intensity, but though Bolton, who had not won in the Premier League for over two months, remain third from bottom, they are now only two points away from Birmingham City in the battle for the safety slot above them.

Fulham’s win at Reading brings both those clubs back into the fight for survival as well and, as Bolton manager Gary Megson insisted, Fulham’s match with Birmingham in the penultimate week of the season could now be vital.

“It was a terrific win and it was fully deserved,” he said afterwards. “We had three kicked off the line and we had two goals disallowed, which were touch and go.

“We knew if we won today and the results elsewhere went against us, it would become even tougher. But with Fulham winning, and they still have to play Birmingham, that is no longer a dead game. But we have to focus on getting as many points as we can.”

It was some day for Davies, too. His 46th-minute winner was his 100th career goal, so for now let us forget that he has scored only four times this season. Unfortunately for the player, after the jubilation of putting his side ahead came, 23 minutes later, a booking for unsporting behaviour that means that he is now suspended for half his club’s crucial finale to the season.

Yet such was the striker’s impact here yesterday that Megson was quick with the praise. “Every now and again he plays like that,” he said. “He led the line well, he worked his socks off and he showed real quality. I am really pleased with Kevin – and for Kevin.” Seconds after his goal, Davies needed to leave the pitch to have a dislocated finger clicked back into place, but it is his presence which has proved crucial and Megson confirmed that he will still take his striker with the team to the two matches from which he is banned because of the influence he brings.

A week ago, when Bolton lost 4-0 at Aston Villa, they were left without a win in eight league matches, and seemingly adrift. Recent history, however, was in their favour and in both of the previous two seasons, they had put four goals past West Ham in the corresponding fixture. However, for a side that has scored so few goals this season – Davies’s strike was only their 31st in the league – this did not appear to be a likely scenario again, so it was surprising that Bolton had little trouble creating openings. Jlloyd Samuel’s contribution, particularly in the first half, was impressive and when he collected a return pass from Matt Taylor after 16 minutes, he should have done better than to drive the ball straight at Robert Green, the West Ham United goalkeeper.

Things were not going so well for the London club, who suffered another injury blow in a season which is now drifting nowhere after only two minutes, when central defender Anton Ferdinand suffered a hamstring injury. He left the pitch to join 15 first team players who are sidelined. “It was a big loss,” said Alan Curbishley, the despondent West Ham manager.

Bolton were dominant in the opening stages and always quick to prevent West Ham from stringing together too many passes. “It was the pressure they put us under,” added Curbishley. “Bolton put in a terrific amount of effort.”

Such endeavour had already allowed Davies a header on target that Scott Parker was forced to clear in the first half, but it was a save by Green inside the opening minute of the second from the same striker which led to the changing of the whole atmosphere of the afternoon. Bolton won a corner on their right and, as the ball swung into the near post, Jonathan Spector, the West Ham right-back, opted to go in front of Green to clear. He failed to do so though, allowing Davies to pounce in style.

“It was a typical Bolton goal,” said Curbishley. “They put lots of balls in there.” But it was West Ham who then surged away and should have equalised. They have now not won for four matches, and Luis Boa Morte blew a chance to draw them level as Gretar Steinsson cleared off the line.

As the ball came back in, Dean Ashton’s overhead kick forced Ali Al Habsi, the Bolton goalkeeper, to make a superb save, turning the shot onto the bar.

Laziness almost cost the home side when Ivan Campo lost possession on the edge of his own area. Ashton picked up possession and should have tested Al Habsi more than he did and Bolton escaped. Then, eight minutes from the end, the goalkeeper was quick enough to turn aside a drive by Parker from the edge of the box.

The route to survival was never going to be a smooth one, but Bolton at least now have some hope, even if it is going to be without Kevin Davies for a while.

Star man: Al Habsi (Bolton)

Yellow cards: Bolton: Davies
West Ham: Paintsil

Referee: P Walton

Attendance: 23,043

Player ratings: Bolton: Al Habsi 8, Steinsson 7, Cahill 7, O’Brien 6, Samuel 6, Campo 5, Diouf 6, Nolan 6, McCann 6, Taylor 6, Davies 7
West Ham: Green 6, Spector 5, Ferdinand 4 (Paintsil 2min, 5), Upson 5, McCartney 5, Parker 6, Collison 5 (Cole 50min, 5), Mullins 6, Boa Morte 5, Zamora 5 (Sears 66min), Ashton 7