West Ham United v Wigan Athletic
Barclays Premier League
Boleyn Ground
Saturday 24 April 2010
Kick-off: 3pm
Referee: Alan Wiley
MATCH PREVIEW I LIVE AUDIO COMMENTARY
Final score - West Ham United 3-2 Wigan Athletic
Hull have lost to Sunderland! Only Burnley can catch West Ham now, barring a mathematical miracle. Parker lobs his shirt into the crowd on his way down the tunnel.
96 mins - Da Costa hacks the ball clear and finally, at long last, the game is over. Get in there!
96 mins - We're now into the sixth minute of four added minutes...
95 mins - Watson curls it in and it flicks off the head of Melchiot and out for a throw. Come on ref!
95 mins - We're into added-time on added-time and Wigan have a set piece wide on the right. Watson...
94 mins - We're into the final minute here and Hull are still losing to Sunderland. Zola claps his hands. I am not sure how much more of this I can take...
93 mins - Cole and Franco exchange passes a couple of times inside the box before the former is tackled. How frustrating is this game, sometimes?! Melchiot's cross floats out for a goal kick and Noble is replaced by Daprela.
92 mins - This is taking an age. Fabio Daprela is coming on, I think! These electronic boards are a joke. The fourth official says we're going to have at least four added minutes.
91 mins - Parker is going to be alright, I think. Wigan bring on Scharner for Diame for added-time, as well as Jason Scotland for 'Zogbia.
89 mins - OK I don't know where to start! Parker wins a massive challenge on the edge of the box. Behrami finds Franco, who drives forward before losing his footing. He doesn't know where the ball is and rolls around on the floor trying to find it. Bramble picks up possession and sees Green frantically waving for the game to be stopped for Parker to receive treatment. The defender takes his chances and tries to lob Green from the halfway line, but the ball floats over. Parker and Figueroa get some attention.
88 mins - The clock is ticking so slowly it's not even funny! Wigan are going to bring on Paul Scharner.
87 mins - Watson curls the ball around the wall and...straight into Green's midriff.
86 mins - Wigan have a free-kick 30 yards out as Parker is penalised for handball. He holds his hands to his head in frustration. Watson fancies this one.
84 mins - Parker is a man mountain out there. Moses cuts the ball back to Rodallega, and who is there to block the Colombian's shot? You don't need me to tell you.
82 mins - Cole gets free of his marker and then free of Bramble inside the box, but he delays his pass and the chance goes begging.
80 mins - I'm not going to have any nails left by the end of this. Wigan are controlling possession at the moment, and there is a massive collective sigh of relief as 'Zogbia runs the ball out for a corner.
78 mins - Why do I wish Parker had scored that goal in the 95th minute! Seriously, that was one heck of a goal. He even cut across the ball slightly so that it bent past the goalkeeper and into the corner.
77 mins - GOAL! Nice. Very nice. Hammer of the Year Scott Parker picks the ball up 35 yards out, runs forward and unleashes a spectacular strike that arrows past Kirkland. The midfielder celebrates by sliding on his knees before giving Zola a hug that the Italian won't forget in a hurry. All of a sudden, the Boleyn Ground is absolutely jumping.
75 mins - Nice threaded pass from Noble finds Spector, whose cross is put behind by Melchiot for a corner. Noble curls the ball in and Kirkland does well to take it above Cole's head.
74 mins - We're nearly into the final 15 minutes and it is time for a West Ham player to make themselves a hero. As things stand, a winner puts Hull out of the survival picture, with Burnley needing to win all three remaining fixtures to stay up.
71 mins - Ilan is the man to make way for the Mexico striker.
70 mins - Bramble goes into the book for a late lunge on Parker. The midfielder was thrown into the air by the force of the challenge. Meanwhile, Franco is going to be on in a short while.
69 mins - Ilan is fouled on halfway. Upson lifts the ball into the box, but Cole can only divert his header well wide of the post.
66 mins - Wigan are playing for a point here, and hitting West Ham on the break if they can. It's up to the Hammers to take the game by the scruff of the neck here.
64 mins - Cole wins the ball from Bramble and finds Behrami. He lays the ball off to Kovac, whose shot hits a defender and goes behind. Noble's corner find Kovac, whose header loops on to the top of the crossbar, bounces down and Wigan hack clear.
63 mins - He does, and Caldwell heads behind for a corner. He curls the ball in, but it's behind everyone and Wigan head it out for a throw.
62 mins - Da Costa takes the game on by himself, hurdling two challenges before winning a free-kick inside the Wigan half. Noble can curl the ball into the box here.
60 mins - Talk about route one football. Bramble hacks it long and Green has to judge the bounce to catch above Rodallega.
59 mins - 'Zogbia drives the ball in low and Green does well to plunge to his right and push the ball aside.
57 mins - Franco, Diamanti and Gabbidon are all sent out for a run on the touchline. Will Zola make a change? On the pitch, Spector gives away a foul for a lunging challenge on 'Zogbia. He is booked. Wigan have another chance from a set piece.
54 mins - West Ham go on the offensive straight from the kick-off, Ilan is crowded out but the ball falls to Noble, whose shot is straight at Kirkland.
52 mins - GOAL! Watson brings the ball forward before finding Diame, whose shot is blocked behind by Da Costa. Watson will take the set piece. He curls it in, it is flicked on and Rodallega thighs it in at the far post. Replays suggest it wasn't handball, despite the claims of the home players.
51 mins - Ilan does well again, picking up the ball 30 yards from goal and running at the Wigan back four. He cuts on to his left foot but sees his shot blocked by Caldwell.
50 mins - The attendance today is 33,057. There aren't many empty seats in the home sections, but there are quite a few in the Wigan end. Those who have travelled down applaud as Moses scuffs a low shot wide.
48 mins - A low-key start to the second half is ended as Moses storms past Faubert into the box, but he over-hits is cross.
46 mins - Cole and Ilan get us back underway...
West Ham are going to kick-off towards the Bobby Moore Stand end.
Here come the two teams for the second half. Both teams have had a player sent-off at Hull, but it's here that West Ham need to do the business.
Half-time score - West Ham United 2-1 Wigan Athletic
51 mins - It's half-time. What a 45 minutes! As things stand, Hull are 45 minutes away from effectively being relegated, and West Ham 45 minutes from being safe, as long as Burnley don't win all three of their remaining matches. Long way to go, though...
50 mins - GOAL! Shows what I know about football! Noble shoots and Kirkland, perhaps distracted by the retreating Caldwell, paws the ball straight up in the air. Kovac reacts quickest and heads into the unguarded net.
49 mins - A last chance for West Ham as Cole is brought down by Bramble about 25-28 yards from goal. Noble wants to take it, but I don't think he's going to shoot.
48 mins - Wigan win a corner off Parker. 'Zogbia takes, but it's too close to Green and he claims with ease. Thank goodness.
47 mins - Wigan are finishing the stronger of the two sides here. West Ham need to lift the pressure, and do so by winning a succession of throw-ins.
45 mins - Jimmy Bullard, the former West Ham player, misses a penalty for Hull. We're going to have at least another five minutes here.
44 mins - Wigan clear the corner to Behrami. Faubert lifts it back into the box and Cole goes down under a challenge from Bramble. He thinks he was pushed, but referee Wiley waves his hands. Nothing given.
43 mins - As if to prove my point, Cole holds off Caldwell with ease, forcing the defender to foul him ten yards inside the Wigan half. The free-kick is lofted into the box where Da Costa wins it. The ball falls to Ilan, who lays it off to Noble, whose shot is deflected behind for a corner.
41 mins - You get the feeling Cole has got the beating of Caldwell on the ground and in the air. Da Costa launches the ball towards the striker, but it is just too high and the relieved Scot watches Kirkland collect.
39 mins - Nice football again from Noble, who plays the ball to Ilan, who works it wide to Parker. The England man crosses to Noble, who tries to turn back on his left foot, but Wigan get back in and clear.
38 mins - The Bolivian Moreno is replaced by Moses. He is limping a bit, but I'm not sure when it happened. Rodallega will now play centrally, with Moses wide on the left.
37 mins - Nice from Noble, who picks the ball up, cuts inside and tries to loft the ball over the top for Parker, but it skips of the turf and through to Kirkland. Wigan break and it looks like Rodallega might be in, only for Da Costa to slide in and hoof the ball out for a corner.
35 mins - The crowd have come alive after that goal, and it also seems to have given the players a much-needed shot of confidence. Cole has another chance to run at the Wigan defence, but he is tackled by Bramble.
31 mins - GOAL! What a difference that save may have made to West Ham's season. The Hammers break and Parker finds Ilan, he turns in the centre circle and finds Cole, who turns past Caldwell and Melchiot before crossing low. Ilan had continued his run and expertly slides the ball into the net from six yards.
30 mins - Thank goodness for Robert Green. McCarthy unleashes a drive from 30 yards that the goalkeeper pushes on to the bar with an amazing stop.
28 mins - 'Zogbia threatens to go past Da Costa and shoots low with his left foot, but it has neither the pace nor the direction to beat Green.
27 mins - It's all gone rather quiet here. Aside from Cole's chance soon after Spector's own-goal, nothing much has happened at all. I don't think anyone would argue with me if I said it wasn't a classic.
25 mins - Behrami wants a penalty as he goes down in the box. Figueroa was close by, but it wasn't a foul. Goal kick.
24 mins - Wigan are creating the better chances, if you can call them chances. Noble's header falls to Watson, who drives the ball low across the box, but it is too far in front of Moreno and rolls out for a goal kick.
21 mins - Wigan win another corner as the ball loops off Upson and behind. Watson drives it in low and it hits Faubert. Figueroa keeps the ball alive but West Ham scramble it away to Ilan, who is fouled by McCarthy. The Irish youngster is booked.
20 mins - Sorry to have been so silent in recent minutes, but there isn't a lot going on here, to be honest.
15 mins - Wigan's substitute goalkeeper Vladimir Stojkovic is warming up, but it looks like Kirkland is going to be OK to continue.
12 mins - After about four minutes, Kirkland puts his baseball cap back on and takes his place in goal. West Ham have a throw.
11 mins - Hull are losing at home to Sunderland, as if you didn't already know. Fresh from his slip here a couple of weeks back, Darren Bent has scored at the KC Stadium. Kirkland is still being treated. He stands up and has got a couple of cuts on his face. He looks a bit groggy.
8 mins - Parker sends Cole away down the inside-left channel. He cuts back on to his right foot and crosses, but the ball hits a heel and bounces clear. Seconds later, Cole gets clean through, rounds Kirkland and rolls the ball goalwards, only for Caldwell to get back and clear it off the line. Kirkland is lying prone on the turf after appearing to be caught by Cole in the face as the striker went round him. Nothing deliberate in it, Cole simply caught him with a stray boot.
7 mins - Nothing in response from the home side just yet.
4 mins - GOAL! Own-goal from Spector, who could only divert the ball past Green from six yards from Watson's corner. The American was trying to keep Rodallega away from the ball and could only chest the ball backwards.
3 mins - Kovac gives possession away. Wigan break and Rodallega looks to have a chance to shoot, but Da Costa ushers the ball behind for a corner.
2 mins - Good football early on from the Hammers. Parker, Kovac and Ilan combine to release Faubert down the right, but his cross flies behind for a goal kick.
3pm - Here we go...
2.59pm - The pre-match coin toss is completed. West Ham will attack the Sir Trevor Brooking Stand end in the first half. Wigan's players go into a huddle. They'll kick off through Marcelo Moreno and Ben Watson.
2.58pm - Manager Zola is signing some autographs for a few fans in the West Stand Lower before taking his seat in the dugout next to Steve Clarke.
2.57pm - 'Bubbles' kicks in and here come the two teams. This really is a massive afternoon for West Ham United, to coin a phrase... A very impressive couple of flags are draped over the front of the Sir Trevor Brooking Stand Upper. One depicts Bobby Moore. We could certainly do with a performance the great man would be proud of this afternoon.
2.55pm - Zavon Hines and Jordan Spence are here to cheer on their team-mates. They are sat behind the dugout alongside reserve-team manager Alex Dyer and other members of the backroom staff. Mido is there too, just taking his seat.
2.52pm - Julien Faubert is on the big screen. He reckons four points will see the Hammers safe. We shall see. Three today would certainly help. Incidentally, the Frenchman is reportedly among the best 'Call of Duty' players in the squad. I have never played the PlayStation 3 game myself, but apparently a few of the players are dab hands.
2.50pm - According to Wikipedia, Benni McCarthy used to be in a rap group with Wigan's Mario Melchiot when the pair played for Ajax. The duo, along with former Huddersfield Town and Barnsley midfielder Dean Gorre, were in a group called BMD, and they allegedly released a single called 'Midas Touch'. Extensive internet searches have failed to uncover a copy of the tune, but I'm sure it was a classic.
2.45pm - Geoff Pike, the 1980 FA Cup winner, is being interviewed on the side of the pitch. He outlines the need for a home win this afternoon. For those who aren't aware, Pike is working under Sir Trevor Brooking at the Football Association.
2.40pm - There is an air of expectation around the stadium this afternoon. News that Tottenham Hotspur have lost 3-1 at Manchester United is welcomed with a cheer by those who have already taken their seats in the April sunshine. It's a bit hazy, rather than scorching hot here in east London, but the weather could certainly be a lot worse. It's already been a good day for Essex, with Steve Davis defeating reigning champion John Higgins to reach the quarter-finals of the snooker World Championship in Sheffield. Interesting, eh?
Good afternoon and welcome to a hot and sunny Boleyn Ground for what promises to be a thrilling Barclays Premier League meeting between West Ham United and Wigan Athletic.
The Hammers know a victory, combined with a defeat for Hull City at home to Sunderland, would all but make them safe. Burnley, who can also catch Gianfranco Zola's side, would then be relegated should they lose to Liverpool on Sunday.
All that said, a home win is vital for West Ham today, with a trip to Fulham next Sunday and a home match against Manchester City on 9 May the only remaining chances to pick up points this season.
Manager Zola has made one change to the side that lost 3-0 at Liverpool on Monday evening, drafting in Scott Parker - available again after serving a two-match suspension - for Junior Stanislas. On the substitutes bench, Stanislas replaces Mido.
Wigan also make one change from the side that fought back to beat Arsenal 3-2 six days ago, with Scotland international Gary Caldwell replacing Ivorian Steve Gohouri at centre-back.
West Ham United: Green, Faubert, Da Costa, Upson, Spector, Noble, Kovac, Parker Behrami, Ilan, Cole
Subs: Kurucz, Daprela, Gabbidon, Stanislas, Diamanti, McCarthy, Franco
Wigan Athletic: Kirkland, Melchiot, Caldwell, Bramble, Figueroa, Diame, McCarthy, Watson, 'Zogbia, Moreno, Rodallega
Subs: Stojkovic, Gohouri, Scharner, Boyce, Sinclair, Moses, Scotland