Wigan v West Ham

Saturday couldn’t have gone much worse for the Premier League’s bottom two sides with Wolves and Blackpool winning and Blackburn snatching a point off champions Man United.  Those results make it virtually certain that one of the sides at the DW Stadium will be relegated, with the bookies suggesting that both are doomed. With three points more on the board than Sunday’s visitors, Wigan at least will still feel they can defy the odds. The Hammers on the other hand now know that even two wins will probably be insufficient to survive. With that gloomy realisation, a Wigan win looks the best bet.

West Ham have been quite simply unable to cope without inspirational captain Scott Parker. The Football Writers’ Player of the Year has missed the last four games and seen his side pick up a poultry point in that period. He may return on Sunday but he can’t do the job by himself. Wigan are a team in reasonable form and expect Charles N’Zogbia, a goalscorer in three of the last four games, to be fit despite nursing a dead leg. A recent win at Blackpool and two hard fought draws over Villa and Everton in the last two outings have shown the Latics’ capacity to fight. The home side’s unity and greater hope should see them edge this basement battle and give them every chance on the final day. Wigan to win 2-1 at 8/1 with Skybet looks like a good shout.