West Ham - 0 Wigan - 2: Wigan are determinedly shaping a European destiny. After five successive defeats to the Premiership's current top four and Arsenal, Paul Jewell's side last night reprised the form that had taken them into the top five; there they returned last night.
The goals of Jason Roberts and Henri Camara have unlocked defences of the highest Premiership quality, the pair having scored 10 of Wigan's last 11. Anton Ferdinand and James Collins, therefore, could offer no bar to their indulgence.
How Alan Pardew must lament the absence of Danny Gabbidon, who had forged a fine partnership with Ferdinand in their promising early-season performances. West Ham's own embryonic European ambitions have suffered for their apparent descent into mid-table obscurity.
West Ham had not rested on their success hitherto and this week completed the £500,000 signing of Yaniv Katan from Maccabi Haifa. Katan has yet to undergo a medical and will not be available until Chelsea's visit to Upton Park on January 2nd.
Wigan had the better of the opening exchanges. After 10 minutes Leighton Baines's long ball from left back was misjudged by the centre back Collins, allowing Roberts a clear run on goal. However, Roberts skewed his shot wide when faced only by Roy Carroll.
The best move of the half came from the visitors, with Graham Kavanagh's diagonal ball releasing Gary Teale on the right. The winger spotted the surging run from Jimmy Bullard, and Bullard's shot from 22 yards drew a fine diving parry from Carroll.
Pardew chose to withdraw Carl Fletcher from his post on the right wing, replacing him with Bobby Zamora.
Yet the move could not prevent the Wigan onslaught. Ferdinand attempted to deal with Kavanagh's simple header with an elaborate back-flick in his own area, allowing Camara to feed Roberts. Again the striker tormented Collins, ghosting past the hapless centre half before chipping over Carroll for the opening goal after 43 minutes.
Seconds later Wigan had doubled their lead, Camara conjuring a cameo of the highest quality. The striker's back-heel played out Konchesky, and put himself into space from which to drag his shot across Carroll.
l Guardian Service
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.
Referee: S Bennett (Kent).
