April 24, 2010 – West Ham took a huge step toward safety with a 3-2 victory over Wigan Athletic at the Boleyn Ground. Goals from Ilan, Radoslav Kovac and the returning Scott Parker were enough to overcome an own goal by Jonathan Spector and a Hugo Rodallega strike. The win, along with Hull City’s loss to Sunderland, all but ensures there will be Premiership football in East London next season.
The home side started the match brightly and had the ball in the offensive half before Julien Faubert hit his cross over the Wigan net. Things took a drastic turn for the worse shortly after when Kovac’s pass was intercepted in West Ham’s half, forcing Manuel Da Costa to scramble back and cut out an attempted cross for a corner. Ben Watson’s well-taken kick went straight into the mixer where Jonathan Spector some how managed to head the ball into his own net. It was the worse possible start for the nervous home team that knew the match was their last, best chance to control their own destiny.
To the credit of the supporters and the team, they responded well to the setback. Bubbles was ringing around the Boleyn within a minute of the restart and on eight minutes, Carlton Cole got loose down the left but no one was available in the box to meet his cross. Seconds later the big striker found himself in alone on Wigan keeper Chris Kirkland after a turnover. Cole rounded Kirkland as the keeper dove in vain at his feet. Cole then pivoted and shot but his effort was cleared off the line by the retreating Gary Caldwell. Kirkland remained down for several minutes having caught Cole’s studs in the face. The former Liverpool keeper bravely continued despite suffering two cuts that would require a total nine stitches to close at halftime.
When the match finally resumed, the tempo had settled, with few chances being created for the next 15-20 minutes. A key moment in the game arrived on the half hour mark when Robert Green managed to push a fierce, long-range drive from James McCarty onto the crossbar. Seconds later Ilan worked the ball through the midfield and passed it up to Cole, who’d found space between the central defenders. Cole peeled off and drove into the box on the left before crossing it back to Ilan, who’d followed him into the area. The Brazilian coolly struck the ball into the far corner and the Hammers were level.
After the goal, Cole’s size and pace continued to cause problems for Caldwell but Wigan managed to keep him in check. In the 35th minute, the lively Da Costa took the ball on a long run into the Wigan half but in the end, the defender was unable to pick out a teammate. Da Costa did well to get back a couple minutes later for some last-ditch defending that resulted in a Wigan corner. The ensuing set piece cleared everyone and went out for a West Ham throw. A minute later Wigan was forced to make a substitution as the ineffective Marcelo Moreno limped off and was replaced by Victor Moses.
In the 41st minute Da Costa hit a decent long ball into the area but Cole couldn’t quite get on the end of it. Moments later the young, Portuguese made an acrobatic, overhead kick to clear a bouncing ball. Wigan then had a stretch of sustained possession and pressure as the match moved into five minutes of first-half injury time. Then in the 49th minute Cole was hacked down 35 yards out by Titus Bramble, who’d switched onto him after Caldwell had struggled to keep pace. Mark Noble took the resulting free kick, bending it over the wall and toward the top corner where Kirkland got a hand to it. The ball bounced invitingly in front of the goal where Kovac leapt to head it home before being crushed by the desperate Caldwell. After falling behind in the first five minutes, the Hammers were now going into the break with a 2-1 lead.
Despite being in front and having the crowd behind them, West Ham were unable to take hold of the match and it was Wigan that started better in the second half. Seven minute in, Da Costa blocked a shot out for a corner and the resulting set piece came off Rodallega’s hip at the far post and went in. The visitors kept up the pressure and Spector was booked for a foul on Charles N’Zogbia just before the hour mark. Green did a terrific job of pushing the resulting free kick away at the far post. A couple of minutes later, Da Costa made another run into the Wigan half. This time it took a foul to halt the Portuguese defender and Noble’s resulting free kick was headed out for a corner but nothing came of it. Two minutes later, the Hammers won another corner and Kovac’s looping header bounced off the crossbar before being cleared.
The match entered a scrappy period for the next 10-15 minutes as the two sides struggled to take control of a game that had the potential of going either way. Bramble was cautioned for a foul on Parker in the 70th minute. Then Guillermo Franco came on for Ilan, who appeared to have picked up a knock.
The decisive moment came in the 77th minute when Da Costa lofted a long ball out of the back to Franco. The substitute rose and nodded the ball into the path of the on-rushing Parker. The midfielder took several dribbles before unleashing a low drive off the outside of his right boot that swerved away from the diving Kirkland and into the corner of the net. The feeling of relief was palpable as the Hammer of the Year celebrated with his teammates on the sideline. He broke away from them and ran to his manager to embrace him. Several others followed, mobbing Zola, again demonstrating their allegiance to their embattled gaffer.
The job wasn’t over and a nervy 15-20 minutes followed as Wigan pressured the West Ham defense with several prolonged periods of possession. In the 86th minute, The Latics earned a free kick from a Parker handball some 30 yards out but Green was perfectly positioned to make a comfortable save. Three minutes later, Parker injured himself making a tackle but was able to continue after receiving treatment. Wigan brought on Paul Scharner for Mohamed Diame and Jason Scotland for the impressive N’Zogbia. West Ham also replaced Noble, who was limping at this point, with Fabio Daprela in an effort to shore up the defense. All this took a while as five minutes of injury time were added. Wigan had one more free kick from the right that was headed out for a West Ham throw. Allan Wiley, who’d done the home side precious few favors, finally blew the last whistle and the happy Hammers celebrated knowing their Premiership survival was all but ensured.
Player ratings for the West Ham XI and subs to follow (scored 1-10):
Robert Green, goalkeeper (7): He was a bit indecisive on the two corners that resulted in goals but the saves he made from McCarthy’s blast in the first half and the free kicks in the second half were crucial.
Manuel Da Costa, central defender (8): He’s really come on during the run in and today was the best of several solid performances. Not only did he deal with everything that came his way at the back but he also make a couple of good runs forward and his long ball out of the back led to Parker’s winner.
Matthew Upson, central defender (6): Saw to his duties at the back without ever really imposing himself on the match.
Julien Faubert, right fullback (5): He battled throughout despite not having the best day going forward. He’s not a fullback and it’s a bit unfair that he’s been forced to play there all season.
Jonathan Spector, left fullback (3): It was the worst possible start for a player who’s lost his confidence after a series of poor performances. To his credit, he kept fighting and improved slightly as the match went on but N’Zogbia gave him a torrid time down the wing.
Radislav Kovac, central midfielder (7): He started poorly, giving away the ball in his own half, which led to a corner, which led to the first goal. However, he improved dramatically after that. He scored one and almost had another but it was his defensive work and running that impressed me. I know it’s fashionable to criticize his passing but I thought he did well in this area as the match went on.
Scott Parker, central midfielder (8): It will probably be forgotten but he was rather quiet in the first half as it took him a while to find his place in the team after a two-match suspension. He warmed to the task in the second interval and scored a great goal that will long be remembered in the East End. His tackles and blocks following his goal were vital as well.
Valon Behrami, right midfielder (6): His work rate is always high but it hasn’t been coming off for the Swiss in recent weeks. He could probably benefit from a rest but with only two games remaining, those matches might be our last chances to see him in a West Ham shirt.
Mark Noble, left midfielder (7): Playing out of his favored, central midfield role it took him a while to find his way offensively but he worked ever so hard at the defensive end. He played some good passes and looked absolutely exhausted when he came off at the end.
Ilan, striker (7): He scored another vital goal but did you see the way his teammates reacted to him afterward? Most of them ignored him while it looked like Noble was ready to punch him in the face. He’s not a popular guy to say the least. Could it all be because of his criticism of Zola in the press? It will be difficult for him to stay at the club beyond this season without some kind of reconciliation.
Carlton Cole, striker (7): He didn’t score but he set up the first goal and was a constant threat, especially when marked by Caldwell early on. He also provided an outlet when Wigan was pressurizing our rear guard.
Substitutes:
Guillermo Franco, striker (6): He’s got loads of talent and vision but no pace. It’s like having Sheringham back. He created a couple of half chances with Cole before heading the ball into Parker’s path for the game winner.
Fabio Daprela, left fullback (no rating): He wasn’t on long enough to do much of anything but I’d like to see him start the last two match in place of Spector.
