Wigan vs West Ham preview - Diame doubt for Wigan

Posted Sunday, May 15, 2011 by PA

Mohamed Diame is rated 50-50 to return for Wigan when they host West Ham in a crucial Barclays Premier League clash at the DW Stadium on Sunday.

The midfielder missed the Latics' 1-1 draw at Aston Villa last time out with a groin injury but he will be given time to prove his fitness.

Otherwise, Roberto Martinez has an unchanged squad to choose from as his second-bottom side look for three points in their penultimate match of the season.

Scott Parker could feature for West Ham as they look to keep their survival hopes alive.

The England international has missed recent matches with an Achilles complaint but has returned to training and is likely to be involved in some way.

Other than midfielders Gary O'Neil (ankle) and Mark Noble (hernia), the Hammers have a full squad of players available to them.

Martinez is urging his team to take a calm approach rather than panic about the outcome of the match.

He said: "To only think about getting a result would be a big mistake.

"In moments like this you start talking about getting results and what a big football occasion it's going to be.

"It's true that it's a key moment in our history but you can make the mistake that you want to concentrate on the result so much that you don't know how you're going to get it.

"I think now we need to realise what we're good at and make sure that we understand who we're playing against.

"We need to understand that to win a football game you need to perform well and if you perform well you can get the result.

"In these big occasions you can play the occasion and not the game and that would be a big mistake."

The former Swansea boss also urged his side to be wary of the Hammers, despite their position.

He added: "We have to be aware of the quality that West Ham are going to bring to the game because they are in real need of points exactly like ourselves.

"And if you look throughout their squad, the experience and talent that they've got, it doesn't really go with the position they are in the table and we'll have to be very careful in that respect.

"The best way to play the occasion is to be aware of what West Ham will bring."

If the Latics do manage to get the necessary points against Grant's side, and at Stoke in their final game, Martinez believes there is great quality in his squad.

"The talent of my squad is phenomenal and it is a real shame that we clicked together a little too late in the season to see the real potential which is huge," he said.

Meanwhile, co-owner David Gold has assured West Ham fans they will look to bounce straight back up if they are relegated.

Anything less than victory at Wigan will end the east Londoners' six-year stay in the top flight after results went against them, with both Blackpool and Wolves securing victory.

Relegation will cost Gold and business partner David Sullivan more than £40million, but the former insists dropping into the npower Championship will not be the end of the world for the Hammers.

"I am not confident [we will stay up]. We do need a small a miracle," he said.

"I am optimistic that we will do our very best to stay up. It is difficult as you can see.

"We are four points behind with two games to go. We need to win both of ours and hope that our competitors don't win their two games.

"Is it possible? Yes. I think it is doable.

"We will set out to win our games and hope for the best, praying the worst [doesn't happen].

"We have budgeted for the worst. We have planned for the worst and hope for the best.

"We are confident that we put together a good squad in the event that we are relegated.

"We are not relegated yet, we have two games to go but I want to assure our fans so they know that in the event that the worst comes to the worst that we will do everything in our power to ensure we come straight back."