WHZ View: Looking back at the last time West Ham won at Old Trafford
West Ham will be looking to pick up a first league win at Old Trafford since May 2007 when they face Manchester United on Sunday.
The Red Devils have an excellent home record against the Hammers. They’ve already won once at home to David Moyes’ side this season in the FA Cup.
A win will keep West Ham well in the hunt for the Champions League spaces. The east Londoner’s are having an excellent campaign and are hoping to qualify for European football next season.
You’d have to go back nearly 14 years for the last time we were successful in the Premier League at Old Trafford, though. The circumstances surrounding the game were very different also, but equally as important.
Ahead of the clas this weekend, West Ham Zone have decided to look back on the last time we won in the league at Old Trafford.
West Ham travelled to the home of the champions in 17th, three points clear of 18th placed Wigan with just one game to go. Fulham were mathematically safe in 16th spot, whilst Watford and Charlton were already relegated.
Wigan needed an away win at Sheffield United to climb out of the bottom three. The Blades, in 16th, would survive regardless so long as Manchester United defeated us at Old Trafford.
Things didn’t quite work out that way for Neil Warnock’s men. Wigan ran out 2-1 winners, a goal from David Unsworth sending them down. Warnock had allowed him to leave for the Latics in January.
To make it worse for the Blades, West Ham won 1-0 at Old Trafford thanks to a goal from Carlos Tevez. The Argentine was at the centre of a row over his registration but still featured for the Hammers on the day.
Wayne Rooney, Alan Smith and Ole Gunnar Solskjaer all wasted first-half opportunities to put the champions ahead. The visitors also had Robert Green to thank. The Hammers stopper made an excellent fingertip save to deny John O’Shea, shortly before Rooney lashed a volley off target.
On half-time, Tevez struck. Green punted long upfield for Bobby Zamora to win expertly in the air. Tevez picked up possession, played a one-two with Zamora and was through on goal.
The number 32 slotted calmly under the on-rushing Edwin Van der Sar to give us a 1-0 lead. The away end erupted as the home crowd were shocked into silence. United piled on the pressure in the second half. The introductions of Cristiano Ronaldo, Ryan Giggs and Paul Scholes weren’t enough to break down out back-line, though.
We held on for a famous victory and sent Sheffield United down in the process. Tevez left a hero that summer, moving up to Manchester United on a two-year loan deal. It was heartbreaking to see him leave, but he was simply to good for us. He’ll always be a Hammer.
In other West Ham news, Rochdale starlet Kwadwo Baah is reportedly a summer target.