Reo-Coker gives death threat fans something to think about
West Ham United 1 – 0 Manchester United – Sunday 17th December 2006
Alan Curbishley’s reign as West Ham manager got off to a perfect start thanks to a goal from his captain Nigel Reo-Coker. A battling performance in which the Hammer’s showed all their fighting spirit blew the battle for the title and the relegation places wide open as Manchester United’s unbeaten away record came to an end.
There was something very much fairy tale about Alan Curbishley’s West Ham return. Introduced to the crowd to cheers of delight before hand and given a standing ovation at the end of the game, a 1-0 win over title contenders Man United could be just the injection of fortune which the East London side needed.
Struggling for goals and for form, Curbishley went for the West Ham team and formation which had done so well for them last season and despite heavy pressure for the away side led them to their first victory at Upton Park since Arsenal visited in November.
There is no question that United were the better side in the first half and should have been two or three goals ahead and out of sight before this game became a contest, but it was the brilliance of Robert Green, not unnoticed by England manager McClaren which kept alive the Hammer’s dream of escaping from relegation trouble.
With Ronaldo at his dazzling best, Rooney linking things together and Scholes finding plenty of space in the midfield it is a wonder that Manchester United were not two goals ahead inside the first ten minutes. Giggs had a goal bound shot blocked by Jonathan Spector and Green had to be out sharply to save at the feet of Ronaldo, all before West Ham had decent possession in the United half.
The home side were almost rewarded for staying in the game however as Matthew Etherington was given a free header inside the box following a Lee Bowyer cross. The left midfielder mistimed his jump however and the ball spiraled wide of the post. West Ham gained confidence from creating their first chance but Marlon Harewood was next to miss out on hitting the target which a rasping 25-yard shot flew into the stands, just missing the top corner.
The Hammers had to be on guard at the other end however and Green palmed wide and excellent effort from Saha before Rooney found his route to goal blocked by Anton Ferdinand.
Manchester United were not looking their usual comfortable selves at the back however and Edwin Van Der Saar was forced into making a wonderful save when Rio Ferdinand’s error allowed Bobby Zamora in for an excellent chance. The Dutch goalkeeper spread himself well but Zamora will feel that the chance should have been buried.
For all their hard work and domination of possession, Manchester United still couldn’t find away through at the start of the second half as Ferguson encouraged his side to keep the ball and wait for an opening. One almost came when Ronaldo jinked his way past Daily in the area and opened his body up aiming the ball for the far corner. Green however was equal to the shot and thrust himself to his left to tip the ball round the post. Ronaldo held his head in his hands after so much hard work whilst Green received the adulation of his team mates.
United threatened majorly once more when good work from Rooney and Ronaldo set up Giggs for a seemingly easy tap in. The veteran midfielder could not keep his effort down however and West Ham sense that maybe there was still something in this game for them following all the missed chances of their opponents.
Teddy Sheringham entered the fray late on as he had done so many times for Manchester United and instantly made an impact for the late goal. Picking the ball up in a wide position, Sheringham intelligently found Harewood at the near post. Bustling his way past Rio Ferdinand the forward was able to find space to cut the ball back to Reo-Coker who had made an unmarked run into the box. The skipper, central to so much of the Alan Pardew drama, tapped the ball home before showing the crowd exactly what the performance meant to him.
There was little time for United to find a response, having missed to many chances themselves, they were too shell-shocked to find a fitting response and it was West Ham who held on for the vital three points.
There was something very much fairy tale about Alan Curbishley’s West Ham return. Introduced to the crowd to cheers of delight before hand and given a standing ovation at the end of the game, a 1-0 win over title contenders Man United could be just the injection of fortune which the East London side needed.
Struggling for goals and for form, Curbishley went for the West Ham team and formation which had done so well for them last season and despite heavy pressure for the away side led them to their first victory at Upton Park since Arsenal visited in November.
There is no question that United were the better side in the first half and should have been two or three goals ahead and out of sight before this game became a contest, but it was the brilliance of Robert Green, not unnoticed by England manager McClaren which kept alive the Hammer’s dream of escaping from relegation trouble.
With Ronaldo at his dazzling best, Rooney linking things together and Scholes finding plenty of space in the midfield it is a wonder that Manchester United were not two goals ahead inside the first ten minutes. Giggs had a goal bound shot blocked by Jonathan Spector and Green had to be out sharply to save at the feet of Ronaldo, all before West Ham had decent possession in the United half.
The home side were almost rewarded for staying in the game however as Matthew Etherington was given a free header inside the box following a Lee Bowyer cross. The left midfielder mistimed his jump however and the ball spiraled wide of the post. West Ham gained confidence from creating their first chance but Marlon Harewood was next to miss out on hitting the target which a rasping 25-yard shot flew into the stands, just missing the top corner.
The Hammers had to be on guard at the other end however and Green palmed wide and excellent effort from Saha before Rooney found his route to goal blocked by Anton Ferdinand.
Manchester United were not looking their usual comfortable selves at the back however and Edwin Van Der Saar was forced into making a wonderful save when Rio Ferdinand’s error allowed Bobby Zamora in for an excellent chance. The Dutch goalkeeper spread himself well but Zamora will feel that the chance should have been buried.
For all their hard work and domination of possession, Manchester United still couldn’t find away through at the start of the second half as Ferguson encouraged his side to keep the ball and wait for an opening. One almost came when Ronaldo jinked his way past Daily in the area and opened his body up aiming the ball for the far corner. Green however was equal to the shot and thrust himself to his left to tip the ball round the post. Ronaldo held his head in his hands after so much hard work whilst Green received the adulation of his team mates.
United threatened majorly once more when good work from Rooney and Ronaldo set up Giggs for a seemingly easy tap in. The veteran midfielder could not keep his effort down however and West Ham sense that maybe there was still something in this game for them following all the missed chances of their opponents.
Teddy Sheringham entered the fray late on as he had done so many times for Manchester United and instantly made an impact for the late goal. Picking the ball up in a wide position, Sheringham intelligently found Harewood at the near post. Bustling his way past Rio Ferdinand the forward was able to find space to cut the ball back to Reo-Coker who had made an unmarked run into the box. The skipper, central to so much of the Alan Pardew drama, tapped the ball home before showing the crowd exactly what the performance meant to him.
There was little time for United to find a response, having missed to many chances themselves, they were too shell-shocked to find a fitting response and it was West Ham who held on for the vital three points.