With a plane circling overhead towing a banner that proclaimed "Avram Grant Millwall Legend", West Ham were relegated from the Premier League in circumstances that will justify those calling for the dismissal of the club's manager.
Two up with a little over half an hour remaining, West Ham saw the lead snatched from them and were beaten with almost the final kick of the game when Robert Green, who had made some vital blocks, allowed a long-range, speculative shot from Charles N'Zogbia to slide under his body. The final whistle and a joyous pitch invasion followed.
The match had a frantic feel to it from the start but it was West Ham who seized control through Demba Ba and Thomas Hitzlsperger. First, the German sent over a deep cross that Ba headed home from close range almost unmarked. Then the German delivered a free-kick that James Tomkins headed across the face of the goal and Ba bundled home between two covering defenders.
Wigan always enjoyed the bulk of possession but it seemed that some superlative keeping from Green, particularly when denying a point-blank header from Hugo Rodallega, would be decisive. However, at half-time, Roberto MartÃnez made a double substitution that helped swing the game, while Grant's talisman, Scott Parker remained on the bench until the 61st minute.
Four minutes before Wigan had pulled a goal back when Tomkins bundled over N'Zogbia and the Frenchman drove the free-kick he had won so spectacularly into the roof of Green's net. Moments later Ba had a one-on-one to seal his hat-trick and effectively the match. He drove his shot straight at Ali al-Habsi.
Wigan were soon level and, when Connor Sammon slid between two West Ham defenders to turn home his shot, all the desire and inspiration drained from Grant's side. Ben Watson struck the post before N'Zogbia sealed the match and, by the end, the 4,500 who had travelled from London were chanting: "Avram on the dole". They will not have to wait long.
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Source: http://www.guardian.co.uk/football/2011/may/15/wigan-athletic-west-ham-united-premier-league
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