Mach Report:West Ham 2-0 Wigan

A goal in each half saw West Ham secure their Premier League status with victory over Wigan, who are three points from safety.
Despite forcing several fine saves from Jussi Jaaskelainen, the Latcis were beaten at Upton Park courtesy of goals from Matt Jarvis and Kevin Nolan. Shaun Maloney squandered a good chance to put Wigan ahead on nine minutes when he fired straight at the keeper, after being played through by Callum McManaman. Twelve minutes later West Ham took the lead. Matt Jarvis' teasing cross beat everyone in the middle and crept inside the far post. West Ham dominated until the interval but Wigan came out revitalised. Jordi Gomez stung the palms of Jaaskelainen from a tight angle and Aruna Kone struck a dipping effort narrowly over within two minutes of the restart. Emerson Boyce and Paul Scharner saw headed efforts saved before James McArthur was denied at point blank range on 72 minutes, Jaaskelainen somehow managing to turn it wide. Andy Carroll was the provider for the second, hooking a pass over his shoulder for the run of Nolan, who acrobatically volleyed home for his 100th league goal.

Nolan joins West Ham

Kevin Nolan is undergoing a medical ahead of a move from Newcastle to West Ham after the clubs agreed a fee, according to the Press Association.
The Hammers reportedly view the goalscoring midfielder as their top summer target and the former Bolton man looks set to reunite with Sam Allardyce, who was named as Avram Grant's replacement last month.

Allardyce is also believed to be interested in linking up with another former Trotter as Ricardo Gardner is on his shopping list.

Nolan's possible arrival comes after Demba Ba used an option within his contract allowing him to leave the club, with Everton and Newcastle thought to be monitoring the striker's situation.

Newcastle Reject West Ham £3m Bid for Nolan

NEWCASTLE UNITED have turned down a bid for captain Kevin Nolan from West Ham United – according to sources in London’s East End.The Toon captain was the subject of a £3m offer from the Hammers last night, with his former Bolton Wanderers boss Sam Allardyce keen to be reunited with Nolan at Upton Park as he looks to lead West Ham out of the Championship at the first attempt.Yet if the failed United boss harbours any hopes of capturing Nolan he must up his bid for whom Newcastle paid £4m in January 2009.Both Nolan and Allardyce – who is also understood to have an interest in Joey Barton – helped transform the Trotters from a Championship play-off outfit into European material until Big Sam’s departure in 2007.Nolan recently rejected a new deal with the Magpies, but the paltry initial bid for the Scouser was always likely to be knocked back given the 28-year-old’s contributions this season which resulted in 12 goals – one more than England star Wayne Rooney.Nolan will turn 29 this month but was a key figure in uniting the dressing room in the aftermath of relegation and is keen to remain on Tyneside to see out the peak years of his career.Yet with United seemingly unwilling to have players in the 30 plus bracket on long contracts, it appears that Nolan’s hopes of a long-term deal are slim unless he is prepared to take a pay cut.

This was underlined by confirmation that Alan Smith will be allowed to leave on a free transfer this summer, while Barton has already been told there is no new contract offer on the table for him when his current deal runs out next summer.

But despite reports, when Big Sam was asked if he was interested in Smith, he simply replied: “No.”