West Ham revived the flagging spirits of their supporters with a stirring win
over Wigan in the third round of the FA Cup.
The Hammers travelled north without a win in five previous attempts, a point
behind their hosts in the league and with an instant return to the Premiership
looking increasingly distant.
But West Ham came out on top winning thanks to goals from Hayden Mullins and David
Connolly.
They were made to work hard by Wigan who staged a late attempt at a comeback
following Wayne Quinn's own goal.
The Latics were looking for recompense for the 4-0 defeat they suffered at
Upton Park in the league this season.
Christian Dailly made the West Ham bench despite suffering from pleurisy over
the holiday period and as would be expected from a team who were in the
Premiership last season, West Ham looked more accomplished than their hosts in
the early exchanges.
Matthew Etherington got behind the Latics defence as early as the fourth
minute but his cross was not a good one.
The two best chances of the first 20 minutes, however, fell to Wigan players
as David James blocked but spilled a Nathan Ellington header, recovering in time
to save Lee McCulloch's follow-up.
The Latics won a 25th-minute free-kick 25 yards out after Repka fouled Neil
Roberts but Jimmy Bullard's effort was easily gathered by James.
Repka was booked minutes later as the Hammers found themselves pressured into
making mistakes.
However, the Londoners should have scored in the 36th minute when Connolly
drove through the Wigan left before sending in a cross which was sliced wide by
Mullins.
A mistake by Jason De Vos allowed Connolly to bear down on the home goal but
the Wigan defence recovered to spare their Canadian captain's embarrassment.
And the Republic of Ireland international passed up an even better chance when
he flicked an Etherington cross on to Wigan woodwork in the dying stages of the
first half.
Ellington was given a superb opportunity to open the scoring within seconds of
the restart when he was sent scampering behind the West Ham backline only to
shoot wide.
And he caused the visitors more problems moments later when he was brought
down by Repka. The Czech defender was lucky not to get a second yellow card.
The referee was surrounded by players from both sides but Repka escaped a
booking and Alan Pardew replaced him with Dailly shortly after.
The game was opening up in Wigan's favour and Neil Roberts should have put his
side in front in the 52nd minute but he volleyed Gary Teale's cross into the
ground and over James's goal.
The momentum was with Wigan and James tumbled spectacularly off his goalline
to punch clear a Bullard corner in the 73rd minute.
Wigan were made to regret their inability to convert their chances into a goal
in the 80th minute.
A rapid exchange of passes culminated in substitute Neil Mellor slipping the
ball through to Mullins who fired past Wigan goalkeeper John Filan.
And Connolly doubled West Ham's lead five minutes later after a stunning run
down the visitors' left.
The former Watford striker cut into the box where he left the Wigan defence
scrambling in vain to keep out a shot he flipped beyond Filan.
The Latics got up off the canvas in the 89th minute when Quinn deflected in a
De Vos shot.
But, although they threw everything at West Ham in stoppage time, Alan
Pardew's side survived to claim a place in the fourth round.
FT Wigan 1 West Ham 2
Teams
Wigan Filan, Eaden, Breckin, De Vos, Baines (Jackson 84),
Teale, Bullard, Mitchell, McCulloch, Roberts, Ellington.
Subs Not Used: Walsh, Flynn, Dinning, Vieira.
Goals: Quinn 90 og.
West Ham James, Stockdale, Repka (Dailly 51), Pearce, Quinn,
Etherington, Horlock (Hutchison 45), Carrick, Mullins,
Connolly, Harewood (Mellor 78).
Subs Not Used: Bywater, Cohen.
Booked: Repka, Pearce.
Goals: Mullins 80, Connolly 85.
Att: 11,793
Ref: H Webb (S Yorkshire).
E-mail Article 
Print-Friendly
Subscribe to RSS Feed 
Post to del.icio.us
Facebook