With another season of Premier League football assured West Ham can kick off their shoes and dip their toes into the pool of freedom. Monday’s 2-2 draw with Manchester United moved the Hammers on to 39 points and allows them to approach their five remaining games with a stress free outlook. Indeed, with that safety net now established, Sam Allardyce’s side can now look toward a top-half finish and could put that into motion should they win at Upton Park for the eighth time this term and other results fall into place. However, inconsistency has been their Achilles heel and the fear is they’ll follow up that barnstorming display against United with listless serving when Wigan come to east London.
Last week’s Wembley heroics will be a distant memory if the Latics fail to leave the capital with the maximum point haul that will lift them out of the bottom three. Of course, Roberto Martinez’s men are well versed in the art of late escapes and were unlucky to leave the Etihad Stadium empty handed on Wednesday after a spirited performance against Manchester City. Martinez knows his side need to start picking up points quickly if they’re to clamber to safety and has been encouraged by their form during the spring.
Team News
Mark Noble could be recalled to the West Ham starting lineup after making his first appearance since February in the 2-2 with Manchester United on Wednesday. Joe Cole (hamstring) remains unavailable along with James Tomkins (calf).
Roberto Martinez has no fresh injury worries and goes into this crucial game with a full squad to choose from.
What the managers said…
“True, the match facts indicated Southampton had more possession than us but to suggest we went there just to play the long ball is unfair to my players and downgrading their value as Premier League footballers and West Ham players. I have learned over time there’s not much I can do about it but I feel for the players at this football club who, in their first season back in the Premier League, have demonstrated extreme talent, especially at home.” Sam Allardyce rejects criticism from Gary Linekar that West Ham are only a long-ball side (Daily Express)
"If we play like this we'll get the points we deserve. It's a performance to be proud of and when you play against a team like Manchester City you have to accept conceding a goal with a piece of magic. But from a football and tactical point of view, we were better in every department and deserved the points. "We've been in a very good run of form. [The performance at City] was no accident. We've been playing really well in the last few weeks and the FA Cup success has really helped us.” Roberto Martinez is confident Wigan will beat the drop (BBC Sport)
Pre-match Statistic: West Ham have won their last three matches against Wigan and have incurred only four defeats in 16 games at Upton Park this season.
Prediction: West Ham United 1-1 Wigan Athletic
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