A stylish display saw the Latics record their first home win of the season against West Ham on Saturday, two good goals and a host of chances, the score-line should have been more emphatic than the 2-1 that will be recorded in the record books.
The Latics took the lead on 8 minutes in sensational fashion, with Jean Beausejour setting up to take a corner on the left, Ivan Ramis was jostling for space in the penalty box, what was obviously a training ground move, his Latics colleagues, Emmerson Boyce and Gary Caldwell made decoy runs taking defenders with them, Ramis feigned to the right and then moved smartly to the left shaking off defender Winston Reid. Beausejour sent over a wonderful cross, Ramis met the ball around the penalty spot and with a swivel he unleashed a thunderous left footed volley that gave Jaaskelainen no chance in the West Ham goal.
With the home support in good voice the Latics looked slick, their passing was crisp, the movement off the ball was a joy to watch, the whole side were playing on top of their game.
McCarthy, Beausejour, Maloney, Kone and Di Santo all went close, in contrast West Ham were playing like Bolton circa 2007, just as Allardyce`s magic was wearing thin at the Reebok, the Hammers looked like the disjointed Wanderers from back then.
Substitute Andy Carroll for Kevin Davies and it was like watching a Match of the Day re-run, balls pumped up to the front man, and that was it.
James McArthur put the Latics 2-0 to the good just two minutes into the second half, a good move was finished off by the Scot after Shaun Maloney laid the ball back to him 15 yards out, he made no mistake
The Latics were in total control of the game after this, just one blip, with the game almost over Ali Al Habsi tried to set Kone away one on one, he inadvertently gave West Ham the ball with a poor clearance, Goerge McCartney floated a ball to the far post and James Tomkins headed home to give the visitors a consolation goal and a score line that flattered them
Teams
Latics – Al Habsi, Boyce, Ramis, Caldwell, Figueroa, Beausejour, McCarthy, McArthur, Maloney, Di Santo (Watson 78), Maloney, Kone
Unused Subs – Pollitt, Stam. Jones, Gomez, Boselli, McManaman
West Ham – Jaaskelainen, Reid, McCartney, Collins, Tomkins, Benayoun (Maiga 45), Diame (O’Neil 73), Noble (Cole 64), Jarvis, Nolan, Carroll
Unused subs – Spiegel, O’Brien, Chambers. Hall
Latics and Proud
Fancy writing an article about the Latics? Why not get in touch, we are always looking for new contributors, after all we are all Latics fans here and want to get the Latics message to the world, so if you have a favourite match or Latics memory get it jotted down, or whatever you want to say put it into an email and send it to us here at Vital Wigan
To get your article published just click here and we will put it onto the site
Entertaining game