West Ham tries to overcome Bolton disappointment

Soccer Betting Lines

03/12/2010 - London, England (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - Last weekend's 2-1 loss at home against fellow relegation-strugglers Bolton did not sit well with West Ham manager Gianfranco Zola.

But he is calling on his team to recover and pull off a stunning win at Stamford Bridge against Chelsea on Saturday, which would move the Hammers closer to safety.

West Ham is currently three points above the bottom three with 27 points, and Zola has said that he believes 37 or 38 points will be enough to ensure survival.

With that in mind, last weekend's loss is even more frustrating because in the eyes of the manager they gave away a great chance at adding to their point total, something that will be difficult to do with away games at Chelsea and Arsenal the next two weeks.

"We have to pick ourselves up and go again this week as we have a massive game to come at Chelsea," Zola told the club's official website.

"I told the players that we lost three points that we should have won and we need to get them back as soon as possible. I don't care that we are playing Chelsea on Saturday or Arsenal after that. We are going to go to Stamford Bridge and fight for our lives. I have no doubt about that."

Zola's men have lost three of their last five games with two more tough matches in the near future, but one thing that will help their cause on Saturday is a goalkeeping crisis for Blues boss Carlo Ancelotti.

With first-choice keeper Petr Cech sidelined by a calf injury, Ancelotti no doubt was disappointed to see backup netminder Hilario suffer an abductor injury in last Sunday's 2-0 win over Stoke City in an FA Cup quarterfinal.

Those injuries have forced Chelsea to turn to Ross Turnbull and Rhys Taylor in goal, with that duo likely to have to play against Inter Milan in the Champions League on Tuesday.

Chelsea has lost two of its last three games in the Premiership, which has dropped the club two points behind Manchester United in the league table.

Ancelotti's men have a game in hand on United, but they must return to winning ways with Arsenal also carrying 61 points into this weekend's games.

The Gunners will visit the KC Stadium to face second-from-the-bottom Hull City, while fourth-placed Tottenham hosts Blackburn.

Manchester City is level on 49 points with Spurs and they visit Sunderland, Birmingham entertains Everton, Wigan travels to Bolton with both sides in the bottom half of the league, Wolverhampton and Burnley meet up at Turf Moor and Aston Villa invades Stoke City.

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Marlins could start season without No. 2 starter Johnson

JUPITER, Fla. -- The Foorida Marlins are preparing for the likelihood that right-hander
Josh Johnson won't be ready when the season starts April 2.

Grapefruit League action starts Wednesday, but Johnson, penciled in as the No. 2 starter, hasn't even thrown off a mound at full speed since September. He's experienced some soreness in his right forearm.

MySportsbook.com have the Marlins listed with baseball betting lines at +800 to win the NL East this season .

''You guys know the math. If he's not on the hill then he becomes an opening day roster issue,'' manager Fredi Gonzalez said Saturday. ''We're borderline now.''

Johnson, who finished 12-7 with a 3.10 ERA in 2007, was supposed to throw on flat ground Saturday. That was canceled when he woke up with pain.

He played catch on Wednesday with no pain but felt discomfort in a throwing session on Thursday. He's expected to try again Sunday.

''Like we always said from the very beginning, we're going to take it easy on him,'' Gonzalez said. ''He didn't feel right, so we shut him down. We're going to take it back to step one and see where we're at.''

Among the candidates to take Johnson's spot in the rotation are left-hander Chris George and right-handers Yusmeiro Petit and Jose Garcia.

Right-hander Sergio Mitre, who missed most of last season with arm and shoulder problems, also is behind.

With Johnson's status doubtful, Gonzalez said right-hander Ricky Nolasco will stay in the rotation and no longer will be considered a candidate for closer.

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