Goals from Teddy Sheringham and Marlon Harewood saw West Ham end a five-match
losing streak and leave a major dent in Wigan's promotion challenge.
Following a first-half of total dominance, Jason Roberts gave the home side a
deserved lead in the 51st minute, only for the Hammers strikers to pull back two
goals in the space of 11 minutes to earn three points that could prove valuable
in their push for the play-offs.
This was even harder for Wigan to swallow due to the fact that Brian Deane's
last minute equaliser for the Hammers robbed the Latics of a place in the top
six on the last day of last season.
And their first loss in five matches was far from ideal preparation for
Tuesday's clash with promotion rivals Sunderland.
The pattern of the first-half made this result even more of a shock.
Wigan set a fearsome tempo and controlled the game from the start. Playing
against his former club, Jimmy Bullard had two shots blocked inside the first
minute and Graham Kavanagh and Gary Teale both rifled efforts wide before there
was 10 minutes on the clock.
The Hammers managed to contain that early onslaught and, after Mark Noble
registered their first shot on target, Harewood spurned a brilliant chance to
give his team the lead.
The imposing striker was played in behind the Wigan defence by Nigel
Reo-Coker's lob but dragged his shot wide from just inside the area with only
goalkeeper John Filan to beat.
The game boiled over following Reo-Coker's high lunge on Leighton Baines,
which earned the Hammers midfielder a yellow card following a scuffle between
the two sets of players.
The Wigan attacks continued, with Teale shooting tamely at Jimmy Walker after
the recalled goalkeeper had strayed out of his area. The Scottish winger was
later unfortunate to end a dazzling run with a clipped effort that flew just
outside the far post.
Nathan Ellington laid on a couple of chances for strike-partner Roberts as the
first-half drew to a close. The former West Brom man first shot wide and then
scuffed straight at Walker after he had shrugged off a challenge from Elliott
Ward.
Roberts had a penalty appeal turned down following a heavy challenge from
Anton Ferdinand and Harewood had another great chance just before the interval,
but lobbed onto the roof of the net after Sheringham's vision had put him into
space.
Just as West Ham seemed more settled after the break, Roberts put the Latics
ahead six minutes into the second half.
Kavanagh's through ball found Roberts, who did well to control and hold off a
strong challenge from Tomas Repka before guiding the ball inside the left post
to score his 19th of the season.
Just four minutes later the visitors were level after a defensive mix-up
between Ian Breckin and David Wright saw the ball find its way to Sheringham,
who celebrated his 39th birthday with a powerful rising finish.
In the 65th minute, Harewood nicked the ball off Wright and rounded Filan, but
was forced wide and his subsequent cross was knocked wide for a corner.
However, Alan Pardew's men only had to wait another minute for Harewood to
finally get reward for his toil, the forward giving Filan no chance from the
edge of the area after youngster Mark Noble had split the defence.
The Latics were dazed and not even the introduction of substitute Brett
Ormerod could inspire them and it even took a fine save from Filan to prevent
Harewood from extending the visitors' advantage.
Teams
Wigan Filan, Eaden, Breckin, Wright, Baines (Mahon 87), Teale,
Bullard, Kavanagh, McCulloch (Ormerod 71), Roberts, Ellington.
Subs Not Used: Walsh, Jackson, Graham.
Booked: Roberts, Mahon.
Goals: Roberts 51.
West Ham Walker, Repka, Ward, Ferdinand, Powell,
Newton (Fletcher 88), Reo-Coker, Mullins, Noble, Sheringham,
Harewood.
Subs Not Used: Bywater, Zamora, Etherington, Williams.
Booked: Reo-Coker, Noble, Harewood.
Goals: Sheringham 55, Harewood 67.
Att: 12,993
Ref: B Curson (Leicestershire).
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