Ashton shows England credentials in West Ham win

Dean Ashton scored twice in West Ham's 2-1 win over visiting Wigan, demonstrating to the watching England manager Fabio Capello the error of the claim that England lacks quality young players.

Just three minutes into the match at Upton Park, the Hammers' 24-year-old striker collected a pass from Julien Faubert and his 12 metre shot found the top right of the goal.

Six minutes later, the ex-Norwich man again proved his England international credentials when he converted a corner. Calum Davenport got a touch on Faubert's kick which Ashton sent into the bottom of the net with a powerful right foot shot.

Wigan's response came soon after half-time, when a high ball found Emil Heskey's head, the 29-year-old England veteran knocked it to Amr Zaki and the Egyptian showed his class by volleying it high past Robert Green, marking his first goal in English football.

Ashton was withdrawn from the field after 72 minutes, after hurting himself while taking a free kick, and Alan Curbishley replaced him with Fred Sears.

Green denied Wigan a virtually certain chance a couple of minutes later, the Hammers' dependable keeper tipping Wilson Palacios' accurate 25 yard strike over the bar. The 24-year-old Honduran had shown himself to be effective throughout the match, albeit collecting a yellow card after a foul on Carlon Cole.

In the final minutes, the Latics' recently-signed midfielder Olivier Kapo had a couple of shots on goal: a left field effort from the Frenchman missed the target. Seconds later an opportunity came for the 24-year-old ex Birmingham man to cross to Zaki but the shot went high.