Wigan 1 West Ham 2

Wigan opened the scoring at the end of the first half when Lee McCulloch shot right-footed from 30 yards into the top of the West Ham net. In the second half Marlon Harewood equalised scoring right-footed from the left side of the six-yard box.

In injury time Reo-Coker won the game for the Hammers, latching on to a Sheringham pass.

Wigan vs West Ham

I haven't found any free live streams of today's game. Apparently you can see a recording of the whole game, with English commentary here at 21:30 (requires TVAnts - Google it if you need a free download). The link doesn't work at the moment, so I am assuming it becomes active at 21:30.

Or, if you want to pay £2 it is on fltv.cc

Radio commentary is available today on BBC Five Live Extra (UK only).

West Ham Semi-Final

The Football Association have confirmed that our FA Cup semi-final against Charlton Athletic or Middlesbrough will take place at Villa Park on Sunday, April 23. The game will kick-off at 4.00pm and is to be televised live on Sky Sports. The other semi-final, between Chelsea and Liverpool, will be played at Old Trafford on Saturday, April 22 (kick-off 5.15pm). Middlesbrough and Charlton will contest their quarter-final replay at the Riverside Stadium on Wednesday, April 12

FA Cup Semi-Final Draw

West Ham v Charlton Athletic or Middlesbrough
Chelsea v Liverpool

Games to be played on Saturday 22 April/Sunday 23 April

Repka News

Uefa.com have an interview with Tomas Repka in which he talks about his time at West Ham. He explains his early difficulties,

"I didn't want to move to London at all as I was fully satisfied in Florence. Our son was born there and Serie A was considered stronger than the Premier League five years ago. I felt it was like a regression when Fiorentina sold me to ease their financial troubles. So I was sulky in London, I even refused to learn English, only speaking with my Italian team-mate Paolo Di Canio. I was het up and played regardless and was booked 14 times and sent off twice during the first season."

Repka also talks about his decision to leave the Hammers,

"There were family reasons to go back. But I also felt that I was unable to give more to the side and I needed a change. As I have said, I like a challenge."

Wigan vs West Ham - Preview

After consecutive league defeats West Ham will hope that they can take heart from Monday's excellent display and recapture their previous league form. Wigan away will be a tough game but West Ham, in tenth place in the league, are only three points behind the Latics, and have a game in hand. This match therefore provides a good opportunity to leapfrog one of our closest league rivals.

Team News For West Ham Anton Ferdinand is a doubt because of the thigh injury that kept him out of the City game. For Wigan goalkeeper Mike Pollitt and Ryan Taylor are both out.

Other News Young forward Petr Mikolanda will leave West Ham at the end of the season. The 21-year-old joined the Hammers in the summer with a reputation as being one for the future, yet he has failed to settle at Upton Park and his contract will not be renewed. Mikolanda responding to the news has been realisitic about his chances at Upton Park,

"I understand why, they have five great strikers at the club and there's simply no room for me and it won't get better in the summer.

Crystal Palace have reportedly handed a trial to West Ham striker Teddy Sheringham's 18-year-old son Charlie.

West Ham Transfer Rumour

Watch the video below. This striker has a wonderful touch. Come on West Ham sign her up now.

Dailly Out Till April

West Ham's Christian Dailly is set to miss the next four weeks after suffering a hamstring injury against Man City. Despite only playing a squad role this season and being much maligned by the Hammers' fans Dailly is an important back-up for the first team. Recent league games have exposed the lack of depth in West Ham's squad. Luckily for the Hammers Collins immense display, playing in place of Ferdinand, against Man City confirms that there is adequate coverage in defence.

Frank McAvennie Hails Ashton

Frank McAvenniee today praised Ashton in The Daily Mirror, "I saw him play against Everton recently and when he went clean through I was crying out for him to smash one in with the left foot and he did just that.

"It was at that point I thought 'He'll do for me'. The club have been crying out for a prolific forward and they seem to have found one. Marlon Harewood is good but he does not win many aerial balls ... he has more than shown he can compete at the highest level."

Reo-Coker Praises Pardew

Interviewed in The Guardian today Nigel Reo-Coker praises Alan Pardew for surviving the traumas of last season and exceeeding everyone's expectations this season. He also defended Pardew from the criticism he received for resting three players on Saturday,

"We were just poor against Portsmouth, that's the bottom line. It had nothing to do with players being rested. Only three players were left out - Matt Etherington, Hayden Mullins and Dean Ashton - and no one said a word about City resting eight for their game."

Other News

West Ham's final Premiership away game of the season, at West Bromwich Albion, has been moved back to Monday, May 1.

The match was originally due to take place at the Hawthorns on Saturday, April 29, but has now been put back by 48 hours and will be televised live on Sky Sports (kick-off 8.00pm).

West Ham United first team coach Peter Grant has signed a new long-term contract at Upton Park.

Quarter-Final Goals

Ashton's goals against Man City...

FA Cup Semi-Final Draw

The FA Cup Semi Final Draw will be at 12.55pm on Friday 24 March. Games will be played over the weekend of April 22 and April 23, meaning Liverpool's scheduled league game at Upton Park will now be moved to a later date.

West Ham receive £300,000 for winning last night's game and £265,000 for television rights. Each winning semi-finalist will receive £900,000.

Man City 1 West Ham 2

In the first ten minutes Man City created a few chances. Their clearest chance fell to Kiki Musampa on 10 minutes. He received the ball half way in the West Ham half, ran forward and saw the West Ham defence part in front of him. Luckily his shot, from just outside the box, went flying over the bar. West Ham didn't really look comfortable until City defender Jordan was injured and replaced. The Hammers then started to retain possession more and to put a few passing moves together. However both sides failed to create any clear cut chances until some individual magic by Ashton on the 40th minute. Ashton received the ball just inside the City box, flicked the ball with his right foot behind his left, left the City defence for dead and then drilled the ball with his left foot into the net from 12 yards.

On 50 mins Etherington rifled a dipping shot from 20 yards, which had James beat, but just clipped the top of the bar. On 55 minutes Sun Jihai was clearly obstructing Etherington in trying to shepherd the ball out of play, which he succeeded to do, only, for some unknown reason, to have a lame swing at Etherington. The result was his sending off. For a while City, with ten men, came to life. On 59 minutes Wright-Philips shot from outside the box and just missed past the left post. The game became more open and on 60 mins Benayoun received the ball from Ashton only to mishit his shot from outside the area. On 62 mins Vassel shot again safely into Hislop's hands. On 65 mins Riera shot from the edge of the box along the ground only to see Hislop make an easy save.

After 68 minutes with Dailly lying on the ground injured, Man City refused to kick the ball out. West Ham won the ball back in their own half and on the break Reo-Coker ran at the last City defender, passed the balll left to Benayoun, who ran towards the near post, drawing James before passing sqaure to Ashton who had an easy tap in to an empty goal. Dailly was replaced by Scaloni. On 80 mins Reo-Coker was booked and replaced immediately by Carl Fletcher.

On 85 minutes with West Ham looking in control Dunne crossed back from the right wint to just outside the box and Musampa hit a sweet volley into the back of the West Ham net. On 88 mins Ashton was replaced by Zamora. West Ham faced a nervous last few minutes with City throwing everything forward but West Ham held on for the win.

Semi-final of the cup. Bring it on

Man City vs West Ham

Ferdinand and Etherington have both been named in tonight's squad but face fitness tests. The official West Ham site claims Anton is a 'major doubt' for the game. Hislop is also named in the squad but Walker is expected to play. Tonight's game will be a tough challenge for West Ham, even if Ferdinand and Etherington play. Before making eight changes to the team and losing against Wigan on Saturday Man City had won the previous seven games at the City of Manchester Stadium. West Ham lost 2-1 there in the league this season, and the result flattered the Hammers' performance on the day.

The good news for the Hammers is that City have some injury worries of their own. Georgios Samaras, who has been in rich goalscoring form of late, hurt his knee in the weekend defeat against Wigan. Antoine Sibierski had to be replaced because of a dead leg. Claudio Reyna also picked up a shoulder injury. All three face fitness tests today.

Links to live streaming of the game can be found here (free - but you have to register).

And finally, one reason why we will win tonight ...

Lineker Criticises Pardew

Gary Lineker writing in the Torygraph today has criticised Alan Pardew's complaints against having to play in the cup on a Monday straight after a Saturday game.

"Having the FA Cup quarter-finals spread over four days this week is a bit of an inconvenience - for television, not just the clubs. But, hey, what if the result of all this congestion and rescheduling is that a properly rested and prepared England do really well at the World Cup, perhaps even win it. Won't it all have been worth it? When the English game then benefits from another boom, the bleating of Alan Pardew and other critics will seem very small-minded."

This is obviously completely unfair on Pardew. I'm sure Pardew and Pearce would be happy to play on Wednesday night. This situation has been created by the FA and there seems to be no logic in playing the four games over four nights.

Ferdinand and Etherington Injuries

West Ham duo Anton Ferdinand and Matthew Etherington face fitness tests ahead of Monday´s FA Cup quarter final at Manchester City. Anton Ferdinand was injured against Portsmouth and is suffering from a thigh injury and Etherington has a back injury. Shaka Hislop is regarded as a major doubt because of a hamstring problem.