West Ham captain Nigel Reo-Coker put an exclamation point on a week to remember for boss Alan Pardew's side by grabbing an injury-time winner.

It is now five defeats and a draw for Wigan in their last six games at the JJB Stadium since an enthralling 4-3 victory over Manchester City on St Stephen's Day.

Wigan had taken the lead at the end of the first half to a bullet of a strike from Lee McCulloch, and looked set to end their barren home run.

But it was a come-from-behind performance from the Hammers as they hit back after the break with goals from Marlon Harewood and Reo-Coker's last-gasp strike.

Wigan manager Paul Jewell had spoken ahead of the game of West Ham's desire to finish above the Latics this season with safety secured, and there is every chance of that now.

Certainly this season has been one that has exceeded expectations for both clubs following promotion from the Coca-Cola Championship last May.

Despite a trouncing in the Carling Cup final to Manchester United, Wigan's achievement in reaching the showpiece occasion cannot be underestimated.

Now the Hammers are poised to follow suit in the FA Cup final, with Pardew's side facing a semi-final showdown with either Charlton or Middlesbrough.

With such a prestigious occasion looming for United in three weeks, there could be no excuses from Pardew in terms of his line-up.

Showing just one change from the team that beat Manchester City in a quarter-final tie on Monday - Lionel Scaloni in for Christian Dailly due to a hamstring injury - it was a West Ham side whose confidence should have been soaring.

But Wigan have shown scant regard for reputations over the course of what has been an astonishing season, and although the first half was a tepid affair, they had their noses in front by the end of it.

Shaka Hislop had been tested on three occasions as Wigan carved out the best of the few opportunities that arose before being caught by a searing strike from McCulloch.

Teed up by a searching run and pass from Bullard, McCulloch then took one touch before powering a drive past Hislop that had such power the goalkeeper never moved as it flew past him.

West Ham equalised seven minutes after the interval. They should have been 2-0 down seconds before Harewood struck as Henri Camara was presented with a clear sight of goal after using his pace to burst into the area.

But with only the goalkeeper to beat, the Senegal striker drove his shot into the arms of Hislop, who immediately launched a counter with a long punt upfield.

Following a flick-on by one-time Wigan target Dean Ashton, covering defender Paul Scharner's diving header on the edge of the area back to Mike Pollitt was weak.

Pollitt, in his first game back since sustaining a hamstring strain in the Carling Cup final, had replaced Filan at the interval due to an eye injury.

But in attempting to cover for Scharner's error, Harewood nipped in to flick the ball virtually out of Pollitt's hands before tapping home his 15th goal of the season into an empty net.

Scharner, McCulloch, Camara and substitute David Thompson had the chances that followed to have edged Wigan back in front.

But with virtually the last kick of the game, Reo-Coker turned home a low cross from sub Teddy Sheringham for his third of the season to nick it at the death.