Scott Parker scored a fantastic second-half goal to give West Ham a vital 3-2 victory over relegation rivals Wigan.
Goal hero Parker seals vital win in dying minutes
Scott Parker scored a fantastic second-half goal to give West Ham a vital 3-2 victory over relegation rivals Wigan in a rollercoaster encounter at Upton Park.
Parker's stunning 25-yard strike with 12 minutes remaining has practically secured the Hammers' Premier League status, with Hull's defeat to Sunderland providing Gianfranco Zola's men with a welcome boost.
The former Chelsea player inspired West Ham to victory with a spectacular winner after his side came back from a goal down.
Wigan took the lead after four minutes when Ben Watson's corner was put into his own net by the unfortunate Jonathan Spector.
A nervy West Ham were nearly 2-0 down when James McCarthy unleashed a vicious strike that Robert Green pushed onto the crossbar after 30 minutes, but they bounced back almost immediately.
From the next attack Carlton Cole set up Ilan to score the equaliser from close range before Radoslav Kovac notched the second in first-half stoppage-time.
The Czech Republic midfielder reacted fastest after Chris Kirkland produced an excellent save from Mark Noble's free-kick and nodded home from two yards.
Wigan levelled after 52 minutes when Hugo Rodallega converted another inswinging corner from close range, but Parker sealed the win for the Hammers in the last quarter of the match.
Lightning
Wigan made a lightning start to proceedings when they took the lead within five minutes.
Rodallega won a fourth minute corner and Spector deflected Watson's inswinging cross into his own net.
West Ham should have been level minutes later when Cole rounded Wigan goalkeeper Chris Kirkland but Caldwell managed to recover and block his shot on the line.
Wigan were inches away from a second goal when McCarthy unleashed a powerful drive from 25 yards.
Green showed every inch why he is currently England's first-choice keeper by diving full-length to his right and tipping McCarthy's shot onto the bar.
It proved to be a key moment. From almost falling 2-0 down, West Ham marched upfield and drew level. Parker launched the Hammers' best attacking move of the half with a clever ball to Ilan from deep inside his own half.
The Brazilian striker picked out Cole, who cut into the box between Mario Melchiot and Caldwell before squaring the ball back for Ilan to score.
Rebound
Five minutes into first-half stoppage-time, West Ham had the lead. Noble's curling free-kick was well saved by Kirkland but Kovac followed up and headed the rebound into an empty net from one yard.
Victor Moses, a first-half replacement for Marcelo Moreno, was leading West Ham a merry dance and he started the second period by charging past Faubert into the box before shooting across the face of goal.
Watson found Mohamed Diame whose shot was blocked by Manuel Da Costa. The ball went out for a corner and once again West Ham were undone by the set-piece as Wigan drew level.
Watson's delivery was flicked on by Moses and Rodallega was at the far post to turn it past Green.
Furious
West Ham's players were furious and insisted Rodallega had pushed the ball in with his hand. Referee Alan Wiley waved away the protests and gave the goal.
The hosts were hanging on now, struggling to cope with the pace of Wigan's attack as N'Zogbia cut in from the right before being chopped down by Spector, who was booked for the challenge.
Kovac hit the bar with a looping header before Parker emerged as West Ham's match-winner.
Parker collected the ball from Franco and closed in on the Wigan box before unleashing a swirling shot from 25-yards that flew past Kirkland.
| West Ham United |
Team Statistics |
Wigan Athletic |
| 3 |
Goals |
2 |
| 2 |
1st Half Goals |
1 |
| 6 |
Shots on Target |
5 |
| 3 |
Shots off Target |
4 |
| 2 |
Blocked Shots |
5 |
| 4 |
Corners |
5 |
| 13 |
Fouls |
12 |
| 1 |
Offsides |
1 |
| 1 |
Yellow Cards |
2 |
| 0 |
Red Cards |
0 |
| 68.9 |
Passing Success |
75.2 |
| 30 |
Tackles |
23 |
| 63.3 |
Tackles Success |
56.5 |
| 45.9 |
Possession |
54.1 |
| 39.9 |
Territorial Advantage |
60.1 |
|
Sky Bet - Barclays Premier League 2010/11 - West Ham to be relegated 5/1
