West Ham United Are Relegated (Sunday 15th May 2011)

West Ham United were relegated to the Championship as Wigan Athletic staged a dramatic recovery from two goals down to keep their hopes of Premier League survival alive with victory at the DW Stadium.

Avram Grant's strugglers knew only three points would give them any hope of avoiding the drop after a six-year stay in the top flight - and even then they were relying on Fulham beating Birmingham City.

Fulham fulfilled their part of the bargain and West Ham looked on course to take the fight into the last day of the season when two headed goals from Demba Ba put them in total command at the interval.

Wigan, who were at one time rooted to the foot of the table by results around them on an afternoon of drama and tension, then embarked on a stunning comeback that overturned West Ham's advantage and left boss Roberto Martinez harbouring hopes of an escape when they travel to Stoke City next Sunday.

Charles N'Zogbia launched the recovery with a free-kick just before the hour and substitute Conor Sammon put Wigan level, and left West Ham staring at the drop, with an equaliser 11 minutes later.

And in a frantic finale that saw both sides trade blows in an attempt to score the goal that could shape their future, Ben Watson hit the post for Wigan before West Ham keeper Robert Green let N'Zogbia's tame shot slip through his grasp for the winner seconds before the end of four minutes of stoppage time.

West Ham's fans aimed a tirade of abuse in Grant's direction as he stood alone on the touchline as their Premier League life drained away, making their feelings abundantly clear about his performance this season.

And West Ham's East End rivals did not miss the target either as, just as Sammon levelled for Wigan, a light aircraft circled the DW Stadium several times trailing the banner: "Avram Grant: Millwall Legend."

West Ham's co-owners David Sullivan and David Gold, in attendance, now face the prospect of losing top players like Footballer of the Year Scott Parker and England keeper Green as they attempt to regain Premier League status before they make their move from Upton Park into the Olympic Stadium.

There was nothing but despair among West Ham's followers behind Green's goal - and seconds later referee Mike Dean blew the final whistle to spark vastly contrasting emotions.

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[WHUFC71]

west ham utd are the greatest ever......ya mugs,

[RossyWalshe]

Even thow i love doncaster rovers i fell rate sorry for west ham utd unlucky lads:)

[LukeBramaz]

@TheLKline Tevez was certainly not instrumental in keeping the Hammers up single handedly. He didn't score a single goal for nearly 6 month so you could say he was one of the reasons we were in a relegation battle. Other players who came in at the back end of the season such as Mark Noble and Robert Green (back from inury) had an equal hand in our survival.

[iEnglandUK]

@whufc4life100 Tottenham are my Prem team; although it's more to do with a strong hatred for Arse...nal.

Now that wet sham pikeys are in the Championship, I suppose Man Utd will have 30,000 more fans?

[whufc4life100]

@iEnglandUK your a millwall AND spuds fan that says it all 

[iEnglandUK]

@westhamunofficial No one wants to check out your dirty channel... go eat a plate of rats pikey scum.

You're mob will get done at Millwall. Mark my words...

[UnionOfJack]

who is this biig boy commentating who sounds like he belongs in the north london slums?

[galaxyblinds]

ha ha ha .... from everyone up north..... you southern cnuts !!!! ha ha ha ...... pop pop pop go the bubbles !!! shhhhh i cant hear ya !!!

[DANNY33A]

Who the fuck is millwall?

[westhamunofficial]

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