Moaning Cole benched by Grant

Carlton Cole has been relegated to the bench by West Ham manager Avram Grant for this afternoon’s crunch Premier League clash against fellow strugglers Wigan at Upton Park.

The England striker paid the price after labelling last week’s 3-0 defeat at Liverpool as “diabolical”, with Junior Stanislas, back from a groin problem, making his first Premier League start in a match designated the “save our season game” by the West Ham board.