West Ham 2 : Wigan 1

What looked an opening-day stroll for West Ham turned into a real battle for the points as gutsy Wigan fought back after Dean Ashton hit two goals in a 2-1 result at Upton Park.

Once Ashton had given the Hammers a flying start with a double in the first 10 minutes it looked like being a bad day for Wigan manager Steve Bruce, who steered his team out of relegation danger to 14th place last term.

But the Latics roared back, sensing uncertainty in the Hammers ranks and after Emile Heskey set up a strike for new Egyptian signing Amr Zaki in the 47th minute, it was all hands to the pump for West Ham - especially after its blond centre forward hobbled off with 17 minutes left.

In only the third minute, after Wigan had gone forward from the start, Frenchman Julien Faubert was allowed all the time and space he needed on the right to drive in a cross.

Ashton, who scored six goals in five pre-season friendlies, continued his hot streak by controlling the ball superbly on the edge of the area and shrugging off Paul Scharner to fire a rocket past Chris Kirkland into the roof of the net.

West Ham was stretched to clear successive crosses from Antonio Valencia - but Ashton added a second with a flick from close range after Faubert's left-wing corner.

It looked the perfect performance by the striker, who came back with 11 goals last season after breaking his ankle training with England at the start of the previous campaign.

But West Ham was trouble when Ashton appeared to strain a hamstring taking a free-kick in the second half.

Both he and Parker went off and Zaki, who has scored 27 goals in 48 matches for Egypt and is on loan from El Zamalek for the season, missed two chances to earn Wigan a point.

English Premier League

West Ham 2 (Ashton 3, 10)
Wigan1 (Zaki 47)