This was a crucial match for Latics to prove that they really do deserve to stay in this league and the Steve Bruce's lads did him proud.

Kevin Kilbane scored the only goal in the second minute of stoppage time in the first half. How it stayed 1-0 beggars belief as it really could have seen Latics running up a cricket score with all their chances.

Alan Curbishley slammed the JJB pitch as being unplayable in parts. I wonder if that was the reason his 'European Cup Contenders (sic)' didn't manage to get a shot on target in the whole of the game.

Latics on the other hand playing on a totally different pitch managed to control the game and totally outplay West Ham for long periods of the game.

West Ham did actually come out of the blocks quite well, Matthew Etherington made a couple of good runs, but his final delivery was lacking.

Dean Ashton probably had the best chance of the opening few minutes, but Etherington's cross was far too high for him.

Wigan then took control with Ryan Taylor tearing shreds out of the Hammers midfield, only for our strikers to be out of sorts.

Taylor was especially dangerous from set pieces and nearly opened the scoring himself. Taking a free kick from just outside of the area, his shot went millimetres wide of the upright with Robert Green just there praying.

Wilson Palacios was controlling the centre of midfield all on his with his never say die attitude. He never gave any west Ham player any time on the ball and as such restricted the Hammers to very few attacks.

Ryan Taylor was involved in the goal as he feigned his free kick to Kevin Kilbane. The West Ham defence was too busy watching the Wigan players in the middle of the area, they didn't notice Kilbane drift wide.

The free kick was pin point on to Kilbane's head who directed his header to back across goal, but with the power he had behind it the ball just looped over Robert Green as he stood helpless again.

The second half started off as promising with Antonio Valencia profiting off Paul Scharner not being able to get a touch of another excellent Ryan Taylor corner.

The ball was cleared to the edge of the 18 yard box where the Ecuadorian shot at goal only for the ball to agonisingly hit one post go across the goal line and hit the other post and then land safely in the flapping Green's hands.

Wilson Palacios had a good drive saved before Scharner ran the full length of the pitch, only to get no power behind his shot and Green cleaned up.

Boyce couldn't believe his luck when he headed a Taylor free kick just wide.

But the best chance of the game fell to Marcus Bent. Just after Bellamy had fluffed a chance wide for the Hammers Bent was put clean through on goal with on Green to beat.

Bent rushed his shot and the ball went high up into the South Stand. Latics comfortably held on for the final ten minutes to record a deserved win.

Report by Jason Taylor www.cockneylatic.co.uk