Pitch Battles Show Wigan an Obvious Route to Safety

From the primordial swamp otherwise known as the JJB Stadium pitch, comes the signs of stirring. Wigan Athletic might not be the highest evolutionary form known to the Premier League, but on this evidence they are certainly one of the most combative. This win carries them clear of the relegation slime and it was entirely deserved.

West Ham came north having just beaten Manchester United, but it counted for nothing in this strange, decomposing land of mud and sand, where wild beasts snorted cold air and bit at their heels.

"The pitch was an embarrassment," said West Ham's manager, Alan Curbishley. "It was a horrible pitch," conceded Wigan's Steve Bruce, "but psychologically we know what to expect and we have played to the conditions."

On this cloying surface, Wigan's determination deservedly won through. In the second half particularly, they tore through central midfield at will, with Antonio Valencia and Wilson Palacios overpowering their opponents. And, whenever Wigan win a free-kick, Ryan Taylor is a potential trump card. It was his neat free-kick in first-half injury time that gave Wigan their decisive goal, Kevin Kilbane stealing in at the near post to loop a header over West Ham's goalkeeper, Robert Green.

Taylor might have manufactured a Wigan lead before then. Green's shakiest moment came when he failed to intercept Taylor's corner; his most relieved moment when Taylor's curling 25-yard effort thudded into the side netting. Another free-kick gave Emile Heskey an opportunity but he made only slight contact with his header. Heskey then limped off, and out of the England squad, with what was described as an assortment of injuries.

West Ham created so little it was a non-contest, Craig Bellamy blazing their best chance over 14 minutes from time. Bellamy had only been on the field as a second-half substitute for 10 seconds when he ran offside and accused Freddie Ljungberg of a bad pass. Ljungberg snapped back. Whatever that communicated, it was not mutual admiration.

Bruce watched his Wigan charges with the expression of a man who has had his fair share of managerial disappointments. But he was all handshakes and back-slaps at the final whistle as Wigan finished powerfully.

Palacios, quick and aggressive, is a Honduran, who was with Bruce at Birmingham, Valencia an Ecuadorian international in his second season. Neither are the most talked-about overseas players in the Premier League, but they epitomized Wigan's desire. Valencia's skill, speed and work rate dominated the closing stages. He was desperately unlucky with a 20-yard shot that struck both posts, he shouldered aside Matthew Upson and George McCartney to force a save from Green, and he set up a golden last-minute chance for Marcus Bent that the substitute chipped over.