Sir Alex Ferguson Will Be Glad To See The Back Of West Ham

With Sir Alex Ferguson stepping down as Manchester United manager at the end of the season, I thought my article should look at 5 of West Ham United’s best memories against his teams.

West Ham had a knack of annoying Sir Alex with winning vital games during their title chasing seasons, on two occasions, denying them a win which would see them lift the League trophy.  We also had some cup success over them as well.

We have also pulled off some great wins ourselves during our relegation scraps in recent years.  Games against Manchester United are always massive, but here are my favourite 5:

1. April 1992 – West Ham 1 Manchester United 0 – With West Hams fate already decided, and relegation all but confirmed, Manchester United were battling Leeds United for the Division 1 title (It was still Division 1 then!).  Who remembers Mike Small, Ian Bishop, Colin Foster?  There is great highlighted footage of this game on You Tube, and I enjoyed watching it to bring back the memories – I remember listening to it on the radio that evening, and hearing the crowd go wild when Kenny Brown smased in a shot from the edge of the box.  Man Utd lost the title to Leeds United.

1. May 1994 – West Ham 1 Manchester United 1 – going into the final game of the season, West Ham were safe, and Alex Ferguson brought his Man Utd team to Upton Park knowing that if his team won, and Blackburn Rovers lost, the title would be theirs.  However, I’m not sure that our Czech goalkeeper, and West Ham legend, Ludek Miklosko, had read the script.  Michael Hughes scored a well taken volley to give the Hammers a lead, but Paul Ince equalised in the second half.  Cue Miklosko, and a world class goalkeeping display, denying Man Utd about 20 times in the final 20 minutes with save after save.  Miklosko’s performance won Blackburn the title that day after they slumped to defeat at Liverpool.  Another title denied by the mighty Hammers.

1. December 1996 – West Ham 2 Manchester United 2 – West Ham were struggling under Harry Redknapp.  We couldn’t score, we were down the bottom, and Harry’s foreign legion were not looking up for the fight to keep us in the Premier League.  And after West Ham went 2-0 down at home to Manchester United, we looked doomed to another winter of gloom and doom.  However, it was one of the foreign legion who led the fight back against Fergie’s men.  Florin Raduciou scored with 12 minutes remaining, staying cool to curl a shot into the far corner against Schmeichel.  2 minutes later, West Ham were awarded a penalty, and up steps Julian Dicks to equalise with a ferocious penalty.  Had Schmeichel tried to save it, I think he would have been in the net with it.  Another collapse by Man Utd, and West Ham went on to be safe that season following the signings of Hartson and Kitson.

1. May 2007 – Manchester United 0 West Ham United 1 – The year of the ‘Great Escape’ and Tevez-gate at West Ham United – Alan Curbishley had taken over with West Ham in serious trouble.  A team which lacked cohesion, team work and passion was transformed with about 15 games remaining.  West Ham looked dead and buried after a 6-0 defeat at Reading in the December of that season, but West Ham rallied in the final stages, and went to Old Trafford on the last game of the season needing a win to make sure of survival.  With Wigan and Sheffield United battling it out at Brammel Lane, and Wigan taking the points, West Ham needed a win to stay up.  Carlos Tevez wrote himself into West Ham folklore that day, and his performances in the final third of that season, are why we all love him so much.  Man Utd had already won the title, but we managed to ruin Fergie’s celebrations, by securing a 1-0 win that day, and none other, than Tevez, who was later to join Man Utd, scored the winner with a tidy finish.
2. November 2010 – West Ham 4 Manchester United 0 – An ill-fated season under Avram Grant which resulted in relegation, was briefly forgotten about on a snowy night at Upton Park.  Man Utd in the Carling Cup, and nobody was expecting a game whereby West Ham outplayed and dominated their opponent from start to finish.  And there were two unlikely heroes that night in Jonathan Spector and Carlton Cole who both stepped up with braces each.  Spector scored a glorious diving header, and Cole scored two goals of such good quality, it begs the question as to why he can’t do it week in week out.  I had a fantastic week at work with this result, and all my plastic Man Utd supporting mates were quiet for a while!

So there we go, we also have the game at Old Trafford whereby Di Canio out-foxed Barthez to score in the FA Cup, and the comeback a few seasons ago where Matt Upson scored the winner and Ronaldo missed a penalty.  I’m sure Fergie will be quite glad to see the back of us……