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  • Boa Morte (30), Benayoun (57), Harewood (82)
  • Date:2007-04-28
  • Kick-off:15:00
  • Venue:The JJB Stadium
  • Attendance:24726
  • Referee:Poll, G

Live Commentary

90mins

FULL TIME: WIGAN ATHLETIC 0-3 WEST HAM UNITED: West Ham ease past Wigan in a convincing victory that drags Wigan right in to the middle of the relegation scrap.

89mins

Almost in stoppage time, and West Ham are just playing the game out with victory within their grasp.

86mins

The game seems to be done and dusted, and the Wigan fans agree as they begin to leave in thier drones.

84mins

Mullins comes on to replace Reo-Coker as West Ham make their final sub with this game wrapped up.

82mins

Tevez is replaced by Jonathan Spector

81mins

WIGAN ATHLETIC 0-3 WEST HAM UNITED (HAREWOOD): West Ham counter-attack with pace, and after good work from Tevez, Boa Morte plays a simple pass to Harewood who scores a simple goal.

80mins

Going into the final ten minutes, and West Ham can only throw it away here.

77mins

Wigan get a free-kick much to the ironic cheers of the home fans who obviously feel that things aren't going their way today.

75mins

Green is unhappy at Collins after he goes up for a defensive header despite the keeper's shout not to do so, but the danger is cleared.

73mins

West Ham are looking comfortable here, and Wigan will need to change their style of play if they are to get anything from this game.

70mins

The game has definately slowed in pace, but West Ham still look dangerous when they attack.

66mins

And here is one of them now as Bobby Zamora comes off as he is replaced by Marlon Harewood

66mins

Where can Wigan turn now that they have already made all 3 of their substitutes? West Ham, on the other hand, still have all 3 subs to make if they choose to do so.

63mins

Baines blocks the ball on the line from a reo-coker shot after Tevez had hit the post! How did West Ham not score there?

63mins

The away fans are now very vocal as they believe that there on their way to 3 vital points.

60mins

Zamora was out on the left when he put the ball in, and Benayoun, about 12 yards out showed composure to score and West Ham are well in control now.

57mins

WIGAN ATHLETIC 0-2 WEST HAM UNITED (BENAYOUN): After good work from Zamora, Benayoun finds himself in space in the box and he converts the chance to give West Ham such a valuable 2 goal lead.

55mins

All 3 games between these 2 sides in the Premiership has been won by the away side, a good omen for West ham.

52mins

Julius Aghahowa comes on to replace Kilbane

52mins

The tempo is slowly rising as Wigan attack, but Josip Skoko effort is easily saved.

50mins

Boyce puts a long ball into the box, and a scramble in the box nearly results in a heskey strike, but West Ham can clear the danger before he does.

47mins

Heskey attempts to head the ball on for Kevin Kilbane, but his header rolls safely to the West Ham keeper.

45mins

Denny Landzaat is replaced by Paul Scharner

45mins

The game restarts as The Hammers look to try and finish this game off as quick as possible.

45mins

HALF TIME: WIGAN ATHLETIC 0-1 WEST HAM UNITED: West Ham go into the break having just edged out Wigan in a tight first half that could go along way to deciding both clubs Premiership fate.

45mins

George McCartney is booked for a bad foul on Lee McCulloch

45mins

Half-time approaches, and Wigan may well need to change things round during the break, although losing De Zeeuw was a big loss.

42mins

On paper, West Ham should be going on to win this game, but as this season has showed, the Hammers are a team with which nothing is ever assured.

41mins

Camara is booked for a foul on Reo-Coker.

39mins

Filan produces a good save after great work from Zamora and Tevez, with Tevez having the final shot.

36mins

Wigan wont want to be dragged down into the erlegation places, but if the game continues like this, then they may well be come full time.

33mins

Zamora looks lto score in an open goal, but the wigan defence get back and block the shot, and the Hammers are certainly on top here.

30mins

Boa Morte gets the final touch on a West ham long ball, and the ball goes past the advancing keeper and bounces into the empty net.

27mins

Heskey has a great header on goal, but it goes just wide, and that was the best effort of the game so far.

24mins

Arjan De Zeeuw does have to come off as he is replaced by David Unsworth, who did have a stint at West Ham.

23mins

All George McCartney had to do was stay onside as Bobby Zamora played the through ball, but he didn't, and Wigan win the free-kick.

20mins

There's definately a nervous tension amoung the fans here at the JJB, but with both sides equalling each other out, there aren't many reasons to cheer just yet.

17mins

Tevez puts in a dangerous corner, and the ball ends up falling to Boa Morte who puts the ball over the bar.

14mins

The game is certainly an open one, but both sides have yet to create a major chance on goal, but that wont worry either side with plenty of time to play.

11mins

Neill does well to head the dangerous Wigan cross out into saftey, although it could be said that the supply of the ball could have been better.

9mins

Baines had a good chance to whip in a good ball there, but his cross in is a bad one and the ball goes out of play.

7mins

Arjan De Zeeuw has landed awkardly on his right leg and was down for a while, but he seems to be alright now.

5mins

The crowd are certainly upfor this game, but Lucas Neill is hobbling, and he could well come off in the opening ten minutes.

2mins

A nervous start for both sides as they know just one mistake could prove to be crucial to their sides fortunes.

0mins

This critical game between Wigan and West Ham could well go a long way to deciding who is relegated as Graham Poll gets the game underway.

0mins

West Ham starting XI: Green, Neill, Ferdinand, Collins, McCartney, Benayoun, Reo-Coker, Noble, Boa Morte, Zamora, Tevez

0mins

Wigan starting XI: Filan, Boyce, De Zeeuw, Jackson, Baines, McCulloch, Landzaat, Skoko, Kilbane, Heskey, Camara

0mins

West Ham's striker Carlos Tevez is eligible to play for the rest of the season despite the club breaching rules over his signing, and has been named in the starting line-up. However, they are without Matthew Upson and Danny Gabbidon, who are ruled ou

0mins

Wigan welcome back winger Lee McCulloch to the starting line-up after missing the last game with a bruised foot, but defender Ryan Taylor starts on the bench as he is still slightly hampered with his own foot injury.

Match Preview

The phrase "relegation six-pointer" may well have been coined for Saturday's crunch clash at the JJB Stadium.

Only three points separate the two sides but defeat for West Ham United would surely put an end to their impressive late bid to retain their Premiership status.

Alan Curbishley's side were written off at the beginning of March after they threw away a two-goal lead to lose 4-3 to Tottenham at Upton Park, but since that day their form has been excellent.

The Hammers have won four of their last six games, but an unhappy knack of losing to fellow strugglers may condemn them to the drop.

The 3-0 loss at Sheffield United two weeks ago followed similar recent setbacks against Charlton Athletic and Watford, while in contrast they have beaten Manchester United and done the double over Arsenal.

Dean Ashton's ankle injury has already ruled him out for the season, while Danny Gabbidon (groin) and Matthew Upson (calf) are doubts for this weekend's encounter.

West Ham's recent improved form has dragged several sides, including Wigan, into the relegation mire.

Successive wins against Newcastle United and Manchester City appeared to have guaranteed the Latics' safety for another season, but a six-match winless run has left them anxiously looking over their shoulders.

They should manage to stay up as they play Middlesbrough and Sheffield United after the trip to Upton Park, but it has been too close for comfort for Paul Jewell's side.

Luis Antonio Valencia serves the third and final game of his suspension following his red card in the 1-1 draw with Aston Villa, while Chris Kirkland (shoulder) definitely misses out, and Lee McCulloch (foot) and David Unsworth (groin) are doubtful.


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Match Report

West Ham grabbed a Premiership lifeline with a well-deserved win against a below-par Wigan side now facing the final two games of the season with some real concerns over their own future at top level.

Luis Boa Morte, Yossi Benayoun and Marlon Harewood got the goals largely due to some suicidal defending, and Carlos Tevez had a key role in masterminding the victory.

It was a full house at the JJB Stadium with more than 5,000 Hammers fans making the trip north.

West Ham, rocked by the record £5.5million fine over the Tevez/Javier Mascherano transfer saga but happy to escape a points deduction, were given a lift with Argentinian star Tevez cleared to play.

Wigan had Scotland forward Lee McCulloch back after injury and Henri Camara in the starting line-up.

Both sides looked nervous early on and it was 16 minutes before Emile Heskey produced the first shot on target.

The big striker turned well but the shot lacked any sting and it was easy meat for Robert Green.

Tevez had a shot blocked by Emmerson Boyce, but there were problems for Wigan when a corner was only partly cleared and Mark Noble hooked over the bar.

The Latics suffered a big blow when captain Arjan de Zeeuw limped off after 25 minutes to be replaced by David Unsworth.

But they went close to breaking the deadlock when Boyce fired in the cross and leading scorer Heskey was just inches away with the header.

There was joy for the Hammers as they grabbed the lead on the half hour.

Boa Morte chased on to the ball from Lucas Neill and poked it over John Filan as he raced out and Boyce could only watch in despair as it bounced into the unguarded net.

West Ham almost had a second when Bobby Zamora's on target shot was blocked by Unsworth.

Wigan continued to live dangerously and Filan just managed to prevent a Tevez shot crossing the line after Boyce's block took the sting out of it.

But West Ham struck again when Wigan were caught on the break from their own free-kick.

Tevez and George McCartney were at the heart of a sweeping move before Zamora squared for Benayoun to slot it beyond Filan.

Tevez was then denied by the woodwork and Boa Morte's follow up was cleared off the line by Leighton Baines.

West Ham wrapped it up, again catching Wigan on the counter, and a move sparked by Tevez ended with Harewood being gifted the goal by Boa Morte.

Wigan Athletic

West Ham United

Corners

51

Fouls

517

Goal attempts

912

Shots off target

34

Offsides

02

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