AMID the punch-ups and investigations arising out of Saturday's survival showdown there was some disciplinary good news for Wanderers.

While West Ham count the cost of seeing the red mist at the end Wanderers' crucial 1-0 victory, Ivan Campo has escaped a two-match ban.

The impressive Spanish midfielder picked up his tenth booking of the season as Jay-Jay Okocha's wonder goal gave Wanderers a vital victory over their closest rivals in the relegation stakes. But the cut-off point for an automatic ban was the previous weekend.

No such good news for the Hammers who now look doomed to joining Sunderland and West Brom in the First Division next season.

The Football Association could deal a further double blow to their already slim hopes of Premiership survival when they investigate the series of bust-ups at the end of the Reebok clash.

Hammers boss Glenn Roeder knows he must do without central defender Ian Pearce for the last two games of the season - at home to Chelsea and away to Birmingham - but also faces the prospect of losing his fiesty young skipper Joe Cole and full-back Rufus Brevett.

Pearce faces a three-match suspension after being sent off for violent conduct - a rash tackle on Pierre-Yves Andre and a push on Gudni Bergsson - in the dying minutes as the unhappy Hammers lost their cool, knowing the defeat had left them with a six point deficit in the battle to beat the drop.

The fates of Cole and Brevett will be decided after disciplinary chiefs at Soho Square have studied detailed reports into the post match fracas which saw punches thrown, the tunnel awning damaged and a policeman barged aside.

Both could face disrepute charges - even worse if Greater Manchester Police decide to pursue criminal charges after considering the FA's response.

Roeder refused to concede defeat to Wanderers in the survival scrap, insisting defiantly: "It's not over yet!" But the repercussions of his players' reactions to losing such a crucial game have made his task doubly difficult.

Likewise, Wanderers are refusing to claim victory but they know they have taken a giant step towards securing a third successive season in the top flight for the first time in 40 years.

"They must be feeling the pressure now," said delighted skipper Bergsson. "I've always been quietly confident throughout the season that we would be staying in the Premiership. It's by no means over yet and we must make sure we keep battling away to get more points on the board but this was obviously a big step towards safety."

Roeder, who was interviewed at length by police after the game, conceded that frustration had got the better of his players."It's natural," he said.

"There's a huge commitment to try to survive in the Premiership.

"The players are disappointed not to get something out of the game and the frustration at the end was understandable."

Of Cole, he added: "He carried the game to Bolton as much as he could. He's passionate about West Ham and did everything he could on the day."

Allardyce said referee Uriah Rennie had no option but to show Pearce the red card but added: "It was not a dirty game.

"I didn't see what happened after. I was too busy celebrating, turning to my wife in the directors' box to see what actually went on but I don't think it was too serious - probably just 'handbags'."