Wigan's in-form strike partnership of Jason Roberts and Henri Camara combined to ruin Alan Pardew's 100th league game in charge of West Ham as the Latics secured another well-deserved victory, winning 2-0 at Upton Park tonight.

With eight goals between them in the last three games, the pair were always likely to pose a major threat - and so it proved.

The Hammers' backline failed to cope with their pace right from kick-off, and it seemed only a matter of time before the deadlock would be broken.

In the end, a goal apiece from the front pairing inside the closing two minutes of the first half proved enough to move Paul Jewell's impressive side another three points closer to safety and - on this form - European qualification after a third straight Barclays Premiership win.

For the Hammers, it was a second straight home defeat, and gives the New Year's Eve derby at Charlton extra emphasis - even if Pardew's men still have plenty of reasons to head into 2006 in good spirits given their promising opening half of a first top-flight campaign for two seasons.

A bumper festive crowd of more than 34,000 had braved the cold, but the match took some time to warm up.

When it did, there was a sign of things to come as Camara latched onto a long pass up field, and took the ball around advancing goalkeeper Roy Carroll, but the striker could not keep it in play on the left.

Roberts dashed clear from Lee McCulloch's pass but James Collins did well to make up enough ground to put the Wigan forward off, and his shot from 10 yards spun horribly wide.

The visitors were enjoying a dominant spell, as the home side struggled to get out of their own half.

West Ham were finally given a chance to exert some pressure when Matt Jackson pushed over Nigel Reo-Coker.

The 25-yard free-kick was deflected behind, and from the resulting corner, Anton Ferdinand drilled an angled effort well wide.

With 24 minutes gone, full-back Paul Konchesky got away down the left, and his cross from the byline was hacked behind by Leighton Baines, with David Bellion lurking in the six-yard box.

Midfielder Darren Fletcher was then replaced by Bobby Zamora, for what looked like tactical reasons.

Jimmy Bullard tested Carroll with a low, 25-yard strike, which the Hammers goalkeeper parried away down to his right.

Ferdinand was then penalised for handball from Camara's cross on the left, just outside the area.

Bullard's low centre went through to the six-yard box, where Hayden Mullins cleared the danger.

As half-time approached, the tempo of the match dropped somewhat, and turned into a battle for midfield dominance, leaving the home crowd somewhat frustrated.

And they were left in stunned silence when Wigan went ahead on 43 minutes.

Another quick pass up field found Camara in space on the edge of the area.

He slipped the ball to Roberts, who flicked it up away from his marker, Collins, and promptly dispatched a fierce strike past Carroll.

It got worse for the hosts moments later - this time Roberts was provider, cutting inside from the left.

Camara latched onto the loose ball ahead of Konchesky, and coolly wrong-footed the Hammers keeper with a low shot into the bottom left corner.

Pardew made another change at the restart, with Shaun Newton replacing Bellion.

West Ham pressed early on, but once again failed to find a telling pass in the final third - increasing the frustrations of the Upton Park faithful.

As the hour mark approached, the home crowd finally found their voice as Konchesky made some ground down the left. The delivery, though, failed to clear the first defender.

Mullins then had an 18-yard effort blocked as the Hammers again looked dangerous following determined play down the left and on into the box by Konchesky.

Wigan took the pressure off when they were awarded a free-kick after Zamora bundled over Baines, on the near-side.

The delivery into the box was good, and captain Arjan de Zeeuw flicked a header only just wide of the far post.

With 12 minutes left, Bullard's attempted clearance at the near post from a corner spun back goalwards, but Zamora could only head the ball over from three yards out - which just about summed up West Ham's night.

Wigan, though, had already done enough to deserve their fifth away win of a quite remarkable Premiership campaign so far.

Teams

West Ham Carroll, Dailly, Ferdinand, Collins, Konchesky, Bellion (Newton 45), Reo-Coker, Mullins, Fletcher (Zamora 25), Etherington, Harewood (Aliadiere 82).

Subs Not Used: Hislop, Clarke

Booked: Dailly.

Wigan Pollitt, Chimbonda, De Zeeuw, Jackson, Baines, Teale (Francis 84), Bullard, Kavanagh, McCulloch, Roberts, Camara (Connolly 81).

Subs Not Used: Filan, Henchoz, Wright.

Booked: Roberts.

Goals: Roberts 43, Camara 45.

Att: 34,131

Ref: S Bennett (Kent).