Hammers on the ropes as Kilbane raise Wigan hopes

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The Republic of Ireland winger produced a looping header in firsthalf stoppage time following a Ryan Taylor free-kick to score what proved the winner.

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Wigan would have won by more but for an amazing incident in the 72nd minute, when Luis Antonio Valencia's 25-yard effort struck both posts before rebounding to safety.

West Ham struggled to get going and almost fell behind in the 35th minute when Taylor's free-kick whistled wide. It was a rare moment of quality as both sides struggled to string a couple of passes together on a dreadful pitch.

Emile Heskey, named in Fabio Capello's provisional England squad despite scoring just once in the Premier League this term, summed up the first half when his attempt ended up closer to the corner flag than the net. But Kilbane struck in the closing moments after the former Everton winger got on to the end of Taylor's clever free-kick.

Wigan looked the more likely side to score after the break.

It is more than three years since Michael Brown last scored in the Premier League and the former Tottenham midfielder will not be given too many chances as good as the one he squandered in the 55th minute.

Brown found himself clean through on goal with only Robert Green to beat, but the West Ham keeper kept his cool to save with his legs.

Then came that amazing effort from Valencia.

West Ham almost snatched an undeserved point when substitute Craig Bellamy was allowed time and space inside the Wigan area. But the former Liverpool striker could not keep his composure and fired over as the Hammers slipped to their first defeat in Wigan.