An era has ended. The Hammers home of a 112 years saw its last day today. The Boleyn, one of the legendary abodes of English football, the home of Bobby Moore, Geoff Hurst, and Martin Peters, the heroes of the victorious 1966 World Cup squad. The Hammers first match in 1904 was against their mortal enemies Millwall and it the story began with an auspicious 3-0 victory.
Today, the Hammers fashioned a come from behind win over Man Utd on their last appearance at the Boleyn before moving to their new digs at the Olympic Stadium. Winston Reid created history as the player scoring that last goal. The match was delayed for about 45 minutes as the Man Utd coach suffered extensive damage on its way to the Upton Park area as supporters pelted bottles at the coach.
The match fueled by fans high emotion began at a blistering pace as Utd struggled to get a foothold. West Ham deservedly went ahead as Manuel Lanzini, another of West Ham’s bargain basement wonder buy cut inside from the left flank and Diafro Sakho purchased some real estate going behind Daley Blind to meet his cut back and guide the ball past David De Gea at the near post. The Hammers could have scored a few more but Andy Carroll one on one with De Gea could not convert and then Dmitri Payet, Hammer of the year shinned the ball miles outside the upright. Utd looking pallid for most of the first half began a gradual ascendancy in the last 10 minutes. The second half was much improved as Michael Carrick came on for the disappointing Morgan Schneiderlin. Suddenly, Utd were stroking the ball with authority, and in the 51st minute, Marcus Rashford slipped the ball to Juan Mata arriving out on his right and his cross picked out Anthony Martial who finished smartly. Game on.
Utd went ahead in the 72nd minute as Wayne Rooney found Rashford who picked out Martial to the left and the striker rounding the corner was able to smash the ball at a tight angle past Darren Randolph far post. The West Ham goalie was fooled into believing Martial would deliver a cross. There was consternation at the Boleyn at a reversal of the dream finish. Van Gaal who had begun a series of climate change dialogues with Slaven Bilic looked suitably pumped. Dimitri Payet was disappointingly off his free kick prowess but got a chance to reset after he had one blocked by the Utd wall and floated a pin point delivery to Michail Antonio and his glancing header drew the Hammers level. It was Payet again assisting in the winner in the 80th minute as Winston Reid’s headed the ball with enough power that even De Gea’s hand could only slow it down on its way into goal. The match was back on script. And it ended with Slaven Bilic, himself a West Ham player in the 1990’s and now manager, visibly moved. This was West Ham’s first win in the last 14 Premier League appearances against Utd (11 L D3)
On the pitch, West Ham Academy standouts Mark Noble and James Tompkins representing the best of the Academy of Football with Michael Carrick, such a part of Man Utd, no doubt remembering those early days at the Boleyn. The delirious West Ham faithful sang Bubbles.
I’m forever blowing bubbles
Pretty bubbles in the air
They fly so high, nearly reach the sky
And like my dreams, they fade and die
Fortune’s always hiding
I’ve looked everywhere
I’m forever blowing bubbles
Pretty bubbles in the air!
West Ham move to more spacious grounds from next season and with this win a possible Europa Cup appearance- commensurate with their expanded ambitions. For Utd, the last 48 hours which began so promisingly with control over their Champions League destiny now essentially destroyed with this loss. City need just a victory against the Swans to secure Champions League entry while Arsenal with this result are already in. Even a draw will leave them in a highly favourable position given the immense gap in goal differential between them and Manchester’s red half. Utd have to win against Bournemouth and hope City loses.
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