After Lee McCulloch scored a stunning opener in the first half, West Ham battled back and sneaked a late winner in stoppage time through Nigel Reo-Coker.

Having won the last two games without conceding a goal, Latics boss Paul Jewell saw no reason to tinker with his starting line-up for the fourth consecutive time.

Despite losing heavily in the league twice, West Ham arrived at the JJB Stadium in confident mood after securing their place in the F.A. Cup semi-finals during mid-week. The only absentee for the visitors was Anton Ferdinand, with former Cardiff defender James Collins continuing in his place.

Wigan's first chance came within two minutes on a classic counter attack. Henri Camara held up the ball after latching onto De Zeeuw's long ball, and then Jason Roberts laid the ball off to Teale, and the Scottish winger fired from the edge of the box, but it was a routine save from Shaka Hislop.

But the Hammers didn't come to the JJB Stadium to sit back. They seemed more than happy to attack, and after eight minutes left-back Paul Konchesky was inches away when his drilled shot from twenty yards crept just past the far post.

But ten minutes later Graham Kavanagh found his way into referee Dermot Gallagher's book for a late challenge on Israeli international Yossi Benyoun. It was an uncharacteristically clumsy challenge by the Irishman.

Shaka Hislop was tested in the 22nd minute as Jimmy Bullard hit a sweet free-kick from thirty yards which curled over the West Ham defensive wall, and almost crept into the bottom corner of the net.

And five minutes later, Latics threatened again with some creativity from Camara. Chimbonda's long ball flicked on by Roberts, and Camara easily beat Konchesky into the box but Hammers goalkeeper Shaka Hislop gathered up the ball before the Senegalese striker had a chance to do anything.

Then Leighton Baines crossed the ball in from the left flank, and Roberts stopped the ball with his first touch before turning to shoot from fifteen yards, but the ball rose over the bar.

There was a worrying moment with ten minutes left of the first half. As Marlon Harewood latched onto Dean Ashton's long pass, Chimbonda and Filan mis-communicated, and the Australian goalkeeper rushed away from his line, but thankfully the West Ham strikers shot went over the bar.

And Paul Scharner came to the rescue as Dean Ashton weaved his way past the Latics defence before squaring to Harewood. As the Hammers forward struck the ball, Scharner blocked the shot with total conviction.

Moments later, McCulloch intercepted Danny Gabbidon's careless pass our from defence, and his shot was heading for the top corner of the near post, and it took an excellent save from Hislop to deny the Scot.

But just as it seemed the first half was about to fizzle out, Lee MCCULLOCH put Latics ahead with a goal out of nothing. Jimmy Bullard threaded the ball to the Scotland international, and unleashed a stunning 25-yard drive into the corner of the net. There was no chance for Shaka Hislop!

Latics 1 - 0 West Ham United

Goalkeeper Mike Pollitt replaced John Filan as substitute, who suffered a knock on his head during the first half before the start of the second half, making his first appearance since the Carling Cup final.

But Latics conceded a disastrous goal at the beginning of the second period. Paul Scharner headed a Lionel Scaloni long ball back towards Pollitt, but the former Rotherham 'keeper was not expecting it and Marlon HAREWOOD nipped in to tap the ball into an empty net. A poor goal to be given away, although the defender generally had very solid performance.

The Latics defender almost made amends for his previous misjudged back header, by almost scoring with one. In the 55th minute, Jimmy Bullard's corner sent the ball into the penalty box and the Austrian sent a bullet header towards the goal, only to see Argentine defender Lionel Scaloni clear it off the line.

In the 62nd minute Lee McCulloch almost scored with a superbly taken half-volley from twenty yards. Goalkeeper Shaka Hislop struggled to make the save, but caught the ball at the second attempt.

As the game progressed, both sides strived for a winning goal, but the fluency of the match seemed to deteriorate as referee Dermot Gallagher blew his whistle for foul after foul.

In the 85th minute, substitute Reto Ziegler's free-kick was pumped into the penalty box, and Henri Camara almost got onto the end of it, but the ball was cleared by Hayden Mullins to safety.

And moments later the German winger humped the ball from the left flank, and David Thompson headed the ball just wide of the far post. Thompson then received a booking after clattering into Paul Konchesky.

However, West Ham devastated Wiganers by scoring in stoppage time. Teddy Sheringham potently turned in the box and squared the ball to Nigel REO-COKER to side foot in at the near post.

Wigan's search for a first home win since Boxing Day continues, and it remains to be seen how much this will damage the clubs chances of qualifying for Europe. To be truthful, neither side deserved to win, and a draw would have been a much fairer reflection.

Latics 1 - 2 West Ham United

Latics Starting Line-Up: Filan (Pollitt 46), Chimbonda, Baines, De Zeeuw ©, Scharner, Teale (Thompson 70), Bullard, Kavanagh (Ziegler 75), McCulloch, Camara, Roberts.

Unused Substitutes: Jackson, Johansson.

West Ham Starting Line Up: Hislop, Scaloni, Konchesky, Collins, Gabbidon, Reo-Coker ©, Gabbidon, Benayoun (Newton 90), Mullins, Etherington (Zamora 70), Ashton (Sheringham 82), Harewood.

Unused Substitutes: Walker, Clarke.

Referee: Dermot Gallagher (Oxford)