Thirteen minutes from the end of this nail-biting match, Scott Parker drove through the middle of midfield; he looked left, he looked right - he saw no-one - so, with not many other opportunites presenting themselves, he instead smashed a shot from all of 25 yards which dipped and curled and virtually burst just inside the post and past the groping Wigan keeper's fingers to put West Ham 3-2 up. Upton Park went wild. At the right time and at exactly the right place, the Hammer's real Captain showed just what a class act he is with a goal of classic proportions.

When the final whistle blew and the result from Hull came through, the players and fans celebrated what all had hoped for but few had dared to believe. There was to be no last match drama; a point or three at Fulham wasn't really essential after all (although it would be nice), the usual last day bum-squeak wasn't required, instead it was a reflection on an awful season that has proved just one thing - there were three teams even worse than West Ham this time around - and for that we can all just be grateful.

The tension in Upton Park for this game was almost unbearable and the release of emotion at the end was palpable. Total strangers smiled at each other and reflected 'West Ham never make it easy do they?'. And NO - they never do!

And so it was with this game. With barely three minutes on the clock, Wigan won a corner. The crowd were baying for the referee to notice that Ben Watson had placed the ball outside the quadrant. Alan Wiley took no notice and it almost seemed as if the Hammers defence thought nothing could come from it as the hapless Jonathan Spector headed into his own net amongst almost complete silence. 1 - 0 down and it was obviously going to be one of those afternoons.

West Ham looked nervous and the crowd were soon getting on their backs but Cole could have eased those fears soon after when he rounded Wigan keeper Kirkland and looked certain to score before Caldwell got back to block. Even so, it looked more of a miss than a great clearance as Cole surely sees his World Cup chances slipping away, so poor has his form been since his return from injury. The Hammers were struggling at this point only Parker and Noble looked bright in midfield while the defence looked edgy; Wigan appeared sharper and more confident but they were undone in an odd way.

James McCarthy hit a superb 25 yard shot that looked a goal all the way until Rob Green somehow pushed it onto the bar and then recovered to clear upfield, Parker played a good ball to Ilan who found Cole and seconds later it was Cole who burst into the box and slipped the ball between two defenders and back for Ilan to strike home. From almost 2-0 down West Ham were back in the game at 1-1. Green fully realised the contribution he'd made to the goal, sprinting to the half-way line to celebrate with his coach.

To show football is a game of confidence, West Ham now started to battle back and Parker was starting to look quite dominant in the centre, sending players this way and that in a battling display that should see him in South Africa if there is any justice (Sadly, there probably isn't). Oddly, the corners given were watched like a hawk by Alan Wiley who, presumably, had got the nod somehow that the first goal followed a foul corner kick.

With five minutes added to the first half following a long delay - probably more than five - to Kirkland, it was West Ham who took advantage. A free kick was taken superbly by Noble who could have scored had Kirkland not made an excellent stop. Unlike Green's save earlier though, this time the ball rose and fell lose and Kovac was on hand to head it home, to as many sighs of relief as cheers, just as the whistle blew.

2-1 up at half-time, West Ham must have hoped to push on and cement a stranglehold, but the second half started as the first with the Hammers looking edgy and the visitors playing a fluid game that often involved a good many passes but with little result. It took another set-piece to bring Wigan level though and once again it was a Watson corner that Moses flicked on for Rodallega to head in at the far post. The Hammers players insisted the ball had been handled but it was difficult to see away from pitch level. Alan Wiley seemed happy with it though and, after a bit of confusion, the game re-started.

At times, West Ham seemed to be hanging on, a feeling brought on by their insistence on defending far too deep which simply brought the crowd on their backs but Parker's wonder goal changed all that and, although it was never entirely comfortable, in terms of the rest of this campaign, the Hammers held on to win all three points and a place in the Premiership next season. As the whistle blew, the team ran as one to celebrate with their manager. It seems whatever the men in dodgy suits think and some fans echo, the team have faith in their manager. Personally, I'm delighted with Zola and I'd like to see him given further time and some decent money although, sadly, I doubt either will happen.

Stll, barring a miracle of wine-changing proportions, that's another season secure. Not sure what all the fuss was about now....