Source: Telegraph
West Ham United 3 Wigan Athletic 2: match report
Scott Parker returned from suspension to score a spectacular winning goal for West Ham United and push them closer to Premier League survival. [LNB]Parker had been sorely missed for the past three games, but his returning performance was full of bite, and his thumping goal in the 76th minute, combined with Hull's defeat by Sunderland, means that Burnley are the only side capable of overtaking Gianfranco Zola's team now. [LNB] Related Articles'Naive' N'Zogbia to face West HamCharles N'Zogbia was 'badly advised'Zola: we must not dwell on costly mistakesPremier League tablePremier League fixturesSport on televisionYet the afternoon started badly for them. The air of optimism bubbling around Upton Park was punctured with the game barely three minutes old when Wigan Athletic took the lead through an own-goal from Jonathan Spector. [LNB]The American defender did not appear to be under undue pressure when Ben Watson curled in a corner from the left, but inexplicably headed the ball into his own net. [LNB]The goal really took the wind out of West Ham's sails, while putting a spring in the step of the visiting team, buoyed by their defeat of Arsenal last week. Wigan played the sort of football West Ham aspire to, passing the ball crisply and attacking with speed and purpose. [LNB]Zola's men, by contrast, looked laboured and lacking in confidence, and once again appeared to be without a shape or a plan other than getting the ball forward to Cole as quickly as possible. [LNB]In the ninth minute, Cole had a great chance to equalise when a blocked clearance from Wigan's defence gave him a clear run on goal. Cole took the ball round Chris Kirkland but his shot on goal was too central and allowed Gary Caldwell to make a goalline clearance. [LNB]Cole caught Kirkland in the face as he went past, leaving the keeper needing extensive treatment for a cut face, but when he resumed he was relatively untroubled, unlike Robert Green at the opposite end. [LNB]The West Ham keeper saved low from Charles N'Zogbia and then did well to tip a thumping 30-yard shot from James McCarthy on to the woodwork. Almost immediately, West Ham equalised as they raced to the other end, Cole drove in a low cross from the left, and Ilan flicked the ball into the net from close range in front of goal. [LNB]At last the home supporters had something to cheer, and the team grew in belief. Mark Noble wasted a chance to shoot from 20 yards, but then had a shot deflected for a corner. [LNB]Finally he made an impact in the fourth minute of stoppage time. Titus Bramble was punished for fouling Cole 25 yards from goal, and Noble fired in a powerful, curling shot towards the top corner that Kirkland did well to save. But the keeper pushed the ball back towards goal rather than away, and Radoslav Kovac climbed higher than Caldwell to head it over the line from close range. [LNB]Wigan equalised seven minutes into the second half from another Watson corner, which was flicked on by Mario Melchiot for Hugo Rodallega to bundle the ball home at the far post. West Ham appealed for handball, but replays showed the ball struck his body and referee Alan Wiley allowed the goal to stand. [LNB]But there was no doubting the veracity or ferocity of Parker's goal in the 76th minute, however. Manual da Costa pumped the ball forward, Guillermo Franco headed it down to Parker, who advanced on goal before hitting a screamer from 25 yards that swerved away from Kirkland as it flew into the net. [LNB]Wigan tried to get the goal and point that would also have ensured their Premier league survival, and Watson had a fierce free-kick saved, but West Ham held on for victory. When the result from Hull was announced, there was an air of celebration, although the PA announcer was premature in confirming West Ham's survival, with Burnley due to face Liverpool on Sunday, but they would need to win all their remaining games and overcome a goal differential of 23 to have any chance of overtaking the Londoners. [LNB]
