Ellington secures Wigan win over West Ham

FT West Ham 1 Wigan 3

Hot-shot Nathan Ellington scored twice to fire Wigan to a comprehensive victory over woeful West Ham at Upton Park and to the top of the Championship table.

Ellington, who netted 19 goals last term, rose above Andy Melville to head home David Wright’s right-wing cross in the fifth minute to open his account - the first goal the home side have conceded in the new campaign.

Strike-partner Jason Roberts doubled their advantage on the stroke of half-time, tucking the ball past goalkeeper Stephen Bywater from 18 yards, before Ellington added a third in the 58th minute, heading home Lee McCulloch’s centre.

It could have been worse for the hapless Hammers with goalkeeper Stephen Bywater pulling off several fine saves to thwart Matt Jackson, McCulloch, Ellington and Per Frandsen.

Half-time substitute Bobby Zamora pulled a goal back for the Hammers in the 69th minute, slotting home Nigel Reo-Coker’s cross from six yards.

But Paul Jewell’s Wigan were left to avenge their heartache of last season when they were denied a play-off place by the Hammers’ injury-time equaliser on the final day.

West Ham, bidding for their second home win in the space of six days, had made a bright start with summer signing Teddy Sheringham, stand-in captain in place of the injured Christian Dailly, seeing his volley fly over the crossbar inside a minute.

The Hammers went even closer two minutes later when Hayden Mullins forced visiting goalkeeper John Filan into a fine save before Ellington struck to silence the home crowd.

Wigan enjoyed the lion’s share of possession and with boos starting to ring round the ground, Roberts added a second as half-time approached.

Hammers boss Alan Pardew made a double substitution at the break, replacing the ineffective Marlon Harewood and Sergei Rebrov with Zamora and Luke Chadwick.

But the switch failed to have the desired effect and 13 minutes into the second half Wigan went further ahead, Ellington bagging his second of the game.

Mullins tried desperately to get his side back into the match but he headed Etherington’s cross wide before Bywater saved well to prevent Ellington from completing his hat-trick.

Zamora gave West Ham a glimmer of hope and so nearly claimed a second, but his 18-yard curler went just wide of the upright and a Sheringham free-kick was also off target to leave Pardew with a lot to contemplate.