Wigan v West Ham

Barclays Premier League
Venue: DW Stadium Date: Sunday, 15 May Kick-off: 1600 BST
Coverage: Watch highlights on Match of the Day 2; listen on BBC Radio 5 live and local radio; text commentary on BBC Sport website and mobiles

TEAM NEWS

Wigan’s Mohamed Diame, who missed out last weekend with a groin problem, is rated “50-50” for Sunday’s game.

Charles N’Zogbia is set to start despite nursing a dead leg, although he may struggle to complete 90 minutes.

West Ham captain Scott Parker returned to training on Wednesday and could play after missing the last four games with an Achilles problem.

Matthew Upson may also make his comeback from injury, but the game will come too soon for Junior Stanislas.

Wigan

Doubtful: Diame (groin), N’Zogbia (dead leg)

Injured: None

West Ham

Doubtful: Parker (Achilles), Tomkins (knee), Upson (leg)

Injured: Dyer (hamstring), Kurucz (knee), Noble (stomach), O’Neil (ankle), Stanislas (hernia)

MATCH PREVIEW

As long ago as November, West Ham billed their home match with Wigan as a “save our season” encounter and six months on things haven’t changed much. The only difference now is that it might prove to be a “too late to save our season encounter” for them.

People often talk about “must win” games. This one is the genuine article

Going into the last meeting, which the Hammers won 3-1, both clubs sat in the relegation zone, with Avram Grant’s team five points adrift of the Latics. Now, with a week to go until the end of the campaign, they’re both still in the bottom three, it’s just that Wigan are now three points better off than their opponents rather than five.

These two clubs were promoted together into the Premier league six years ago and have stayed in the top division ever since, but I’d be very surprised to find both of them at the top table when the new season kicks off in August.

West Ham have got a good record against Wigan, winning four of the last five encounters, but they’ve picked a horrible time to lose any semblance of form. Two points from 21 going into the match doesn’t suggest a late escape is on the cards.

In contrast, Wigan aren’t playing badly at the moment and came close to beating Everton at home when I was at the DW Stadium just a couple of weeks ago. They didn’t play like a team devoid of ability or confidence, but gifted their opponents two penalty kicks and had to settle for a draw rather than the three points they really needed. People often talk about “must win” games. This one is the genuine article.

MATCH FACTS

Head-to-head

• The Hammers have a good record at the DW Stadium, having won five of eight league and cup games away to the Latics.

Wigan

• Roberto Martinez’s side have claimed 10 points from their last 10 games, but have lost only two of their previous seven (W2, D3, L2).

• Along with Birmingham, Wigan have the worst goalscoring record in the top flight this season, averaging a goal per game.

• The Latics have only kept one Premier League clean sheet since the turn of the year (a 0-0 draw with Tottenham on 2 April).

West Ham

• They have failed to win a Premier League game without Scott Parker in their starting line-up this season (L5, D1).

• West Ham have conceded 499 Premier League goals away from home.

• The Hammers’ only away win in 2011 was a 3-1 victory at Blackpool on 2 February.

LEADING GOALSCORERS

Wigan

Rodallega: 8 goals (8 league); N’Zogbia: 7 goals (6 league)

West Ham

Cole: 11 goals (5 league); Piquionne: 9 goals (6 league)

MATCH OFFICIALS

Referee: Mike Dean

Assistant referees: Peter Kirkup & Mike Mullarkey

Fourth official: Kevin Friend

LAST LEAGUE MATCH LINE-UPS

Wigan (D1-1 v Aston Villa, a): Al Habsi, Alcaraz, Boyce, G Caldwell, Figueroa, Cleverley, McCarthy, Watson, N’Zogbia (Di Santo 69), Moses (McArthur 82), Rodallega. Subs not used: Kirkland, Gohouri, Thomas, Gomez, Sammon.

West Ham (D1-1 v Blackburn, h): Green, Jacobsen (Piquionne 64), da Costa, Gabbidon, Bridge, Spector, Hitzlsperger, Boa Morte (Keane 55), Sears (Collison 63), Cole, Ba. Subs not used: Boffin, Tomkins, Kovac, Hines.