Wigan 0 West Ham 1:CARLTON COLE scored a wonderful winner for West Ham but it was card-happy referee Stuart Attwell who stood out. The official sent off Cole for a second bookable offence just three minutes after his first-half strike came from an incisive passing move.
Wigan midfielder Lee Cattermole was next to go when he was shown a straight red for diving into the back of Scott Parker.
In all, Attwell issued seven yellow cards and two reds in a niggly game.
It overshadowed the excellence of West Ham’s goal, a rare bright spot on an evening where beauty came a distinct second to beast.
The Hammers’ victory allowed them to strengthen their hold on seventh place and left Wigan looking for their first victory in eight matches.
Had it not been for Cole’s brilliance the Latics would have shaded the first half.
Two fouls by Lucas Neill allowed Amr Zaki and Mido to test goalkeeper Robert Green with early free-kicks.
Green’s counterpart Chris Kirkland did just enough to put off Cole as he raced on to Radoslav Kovac’s defence-splitting through-ball, with the West Ham striker commendably staying on his feet instead of opting to throw himself to the floor in the penalty area.
In the 28th minute Mark Noble tripped Cattermole after he skipped past a couple of challenges and he was booked.
Cole followed into referee Attwell’s book for a late tackle on Michael Brown.
However, the striker made amends in impressive style in the 34th minute when he provided the finish to a slick passing move.
Parker slid the ball into David Di Michele who exchanged passes with Noble before playing in Cole on the left of the penalty area and the striker curled a shot into the far corner of the net.
Just three minutes later, after Parker had been booked for raking his studs down Michael Brown’s shin, Cole got himself sent off.
His raised foot as Emmerson Boyce went to head the ball could have been construed as dangerous and Attwell produced a second yellow card and then a red.
WIGAN: Kirkland, Melchiot, Boyce, Bramble (Watson 78), Figueroa, Valencia, Brown (Scharner 64), Cattermole, N'Zogbia, Mido, Zaki (Rodallega 64). Subs not used: Pollitt, Edman, Sibierski, Kapo. Sent off: Cattermole (52). Booked: Brown, Valencia.
WEST HAM:Green, Neill, Tomkins, Upson, Ilunga, Collison (Spector 78), Noble, Parker (Lopez 88), Kovac, Di Michele (Nsereko 75), Cole. Subs not used: Lastuvka, Sears, Payne, Stanislas. Sent off: Cole (37). Booked: Noble, Cole, Parker, Neill, Nsereko.
Referee: Stuart Attwell (Warwickshire).
