WIGAN, England (AFP) - Kevin Kilbane was the toast of Wigan after firing his club out of the relegation zone with a potentially priceless winner against West Ham at the JJB Stadium.

The former Ireland midfielder headed in what was only his second goal for the club just before half-time to give Steve Bruce's side a 1-0 win.

With Antonio Valencia and substitute Marcus Bent squandering good second-half chances for Wigan, the visitors could have few complaints about a defeat that dents their hopes of European football next season.

Bruce had reacted to a run of three successive defeats by dropping error-prone centreback Titus Bramble and Bent to the bench, bringing in Emmerson Boyce and Ryan Taylor.

For the visitors, Matthew Etherington and Dean Ashton returned with Lee Bowyer dropping to the bench and Luis Boa Morte left out altogether.

The superiority of West Ham's attacking resources was underlined by the sight of Wales captain Craig Bellamy on the bench, after three months out with an abdominal injury, and they were the first to threaten although Freddie Ljungberg's volley was comfortably held by Chris Kirkland.

Soon afterwards, the lively Ljungberg was hacked down by Ryan Taylor, who was deservedly booked for the foul.

Taylor made amends by curling a 25-yard free-kick just inches wide and Wigan went close again through Emile Heskey's glancing header.

And although West Ham looked the more composed of the two sides for most of the opening period, it was Wigan who took the lead through Kilbane's strike in stoppage time before the break.

Taylor was the architect with a free-kick floated into the box and the former Ireland midfielder met it with an astute headed flick that looped over Robert Green in the visitors' goal.

Wigan almost doubled their lead in the 71st minute when Valencia unleashed a powerful low drive from 25 yards that struck the woodwork and rebounded into the arms of a relieved Green.

Substitute Bellamy almost marked his return to action with a drive that flew narrowly over but Bent spurned an even better chance at the other end. Having sprung the offside trap, the Wigan striker lifted his shot over the bar with only Green to beat.