Back in May it was a goal from Brian Deane that edged Wigan out of the top six and the Hammers’ faith in veterans proved well placed yet again as Teddy Sheringham celebrated his 39th birthday with the equaliser that stopped Wigan in their tracks. The 340th goal of Sheringham’s prodigious career swiftly cancelled out Jason Roberts’ opener and his manager Alan Pardew will hope that the former England international can manage at least three more games at the end of his 22nd season as a professional by taking the playoff route back to the Premiership.
“Teddy was quality throughout the game. He is a major asset for us in and around the dressing-room, let alone what he does on the pitch,” said the West Ham manager, who believes Sheringham could play on beyond the summer. “We have him in our grasp for next year. We are in the box seat and he isn’t doing himself any harm with those sort of performances.”
Sheringham’s combination with Harewood worried Wigan all day, with the boot for once on the other foot as Roberts and Nathan Ellington were unable to decide the issue at the other end.
Pardew, who brought Tomas Repka back into his defence and gave James Walker only his third League appearance for the club in goal, employed a deep-lying back four to negate the pace of Wigan’s prolific front duo and was delighted with the efforts of his young centre-backs, Anton Ferdinand and Elliott Ward.
They were still stretched at times by Roberts, whose first-half miss when unable to beat Walker when clean through proved costly, but it was the Sheringham-Harewood comb-ination that proved the more effective.
“We were pulling our hair out a bit with the chances we created and weren’t taking. But it was a good performance and a good day for West Ham. We got the result which was very important to us,” said Pardew.
With away wins now to their credit against the top three sides in the division, Pardew is demanding no repeat of previous bad habits by slipping up at Burnley on Tuesday, when Wigan can ill afford to be so uncertain in defence against Sunderland.
Having got their noses in front when Roberts latched on to a through-ball from the impressive Graham Kavanagh — already a key figure despite only arriving from Cardiff last month — to drive his 19th goal of the season across Walker early in the second half, Paul Jewell’s side allowed itself to be swept away in the face of a fierce West Ham riposte.
Just four minutes after going behind, the Hammers levelled when the artful Sheringham showed typical opportunism to score his 19th goal of the season from six yards after Shaun Newton had confused the Wigan defence.
Harewood should have added the second 10 minutes later but having been forced too wide on that occasion by John Filan made amends 60 seconds later when beating the on-rushing keeper to stay two goals behind his senior striking partner. “We did not hold on to the lead for long enough and couldn’t take advantage of the goal,” said Jewell.
“We are all disappointed. It’s not a nice feeling, but it’s still in our hands. If we win all our games Ipswich can’t catch us.
“I’m pleased we are playing Sunderland on Tuesday. We’re playing for big stakes and this is where we want to be. Sunderland look like they’re home and hosed, but I’m sure Mick [McCarthy] is not saying that. With 18 points to play for there is still a lot can happen.”
Nigel Reo-Coker was booked for a late challenge on Leighton Baines, which prompted a bout of argy-bargy involving more than a dozen players, and with the importance of the occasion beginning to hit home Wigan began to raise their game, with Roberts almost getting the better of Walker. But, ultimately, it was too little too late.
STAR MAN: Marlon Harewood (West Ham)
Player ratings. Wigan: Filan 6, Eaden 6, Wright 5, Breckin 5, Baines 5 (Mahon 87min, 6), Teale 6, Bullard 7, Kavanagh 8, McCulloch 5 (Ormerod 71min, 6), Ellington 6, Roberts 7
Scorers: Wigan: Roberts 51
West Ham: Sheringham 55, Harewood 67
Referee: B Curson
Attendance: 12,993