United 0 - 1 West Ham
A Carlos Tevez goal saved West Ham from relegation and spoiled United’s homecoming party as thePremiership’s new champions.
Sir Alex will wonder how his team allowed the end of term parade to be as damp as the weather, when his team camped in the visitors half for most of the game and should have won by a clear margin.
Yet it was the United of West Ham variety that made the most of their one sterling opportunity and it is the United of Sheffield who want a word with Sir Alex about his team selection.
Understandably, the manager left Scholes, Giggs, Vidic and Ronaldo on the bench and Rio Ferdinand in the stands, for a game that United shouldn’t have lost. Indeed, the home side began as if scripted and took an early hold on proceedings with some slick passing and movement.
In the 13th minute, Rooney appeared free to open the anticipated goal rush when receiving the ball in the box with a shooting chance available. The forward dallied and the opportunity was lost. The young striker was again negligent when shooting wide of the post on 22 minutes.
In between these chances, West Ham served warning that they could not be entirely discounted and United were grateful to an acrobatic Brown header which diverted a cross bound for Zamora in the box.
United took command as the half wore on. West Ham’s goal led a charmed existence as first Solskjaer, Smith and Richardson went close. When John O’Shea saw his bullet header tipped over the bar instinctively by goalkeeper Robert Green, fans may have had a sense of foreboding. That gut feeling was justified on the stroke of half time.
A long punt upfield permitted the largely ineffectual Zamora to beat Heinze and head the ball towards Tevez. The Argentine, showing the quickness of thought of Milan’s Kaka, ghosted past a dozing Carrick and played a great give and go with Zamora to bamboozle Brown. In an instant, the Argentine was in United’s penalty area and in a one-on-one duel with Edwin Van Der Sar. Tevez made no mistake.
United brought on the heavy canon as the second half got underway. Sir Alex’s side huffed and puffed but a determined and courageous West Ham stood firm. A downward Ronaldo header from a corner looked goal-bound until the stout Green saved with his feet on 74 minutes. Ronaldo saw another shot saved six minutes later. The match dye was cast when neither Richardson nor Scholes could find the target with shots from distance as the game moved to its finish.
West Ham thus claimed a famous double over United and saved their skins at the last. Sir Alex’s men consoled themselves with an on-field party in front of 75,000 guests and thoughts of ending the season with their own Double at Wembley next Saturday.
United: Van Der Sar, Evra (Giggs 56) Brown, Heinze, O’Shea, Richardson, Carrick (Scholes 56), Fletcher, Solskjaer, Rooney, Smith (Ronaldo 56)
Subs Not Used: Kuszczak, Vidic
Post Script
Sir Alex: “I feel for Sheffield United but we did our best and I don’t think anyone can criticise us. We had 25 strikes at goal, four shots off the line and a penalty turned down. When Neil Warnock sees the stats he will understand we were unlucky.
“West Ham have been in championship form. They were the team in the best form coming into these fixtures. Whether West Ham should be in the league is not for me to say but their keeper made a couple of fantastic saves at the end and we did all we could.
“The first half was a one-horse race, then they scored right at the end of it, which was disappointing for us but they got encouragement from it. We had our best team on the field at the end but we won the title last week and it is understandable that took the edge off our game a little bit, so in that sense it was a good time for West Ham to play us.
“We have got a young squad and we can definitely win it again. Winning is a fantastic elixir of life. It’s gives you something extra and I think they will go on and do more next year. It is a fantastic achievement by the players at the club. We are the best team in the country and play the best football.
“When you see the trophy in our hands you really know you have achieved.”
Alan Curbishley: “Let’s be fair about it, I know we have won all of these games but to come here on the last day of the season, whatever the situation with Man United and win, it’s fantastic.
“You can see the way Man United played. They had chances. We defended. It’s a fantastic result.
I hope I never have to go through it again. I hope West Ham never have to go through it again but it’s probably made us a lot stronger this last three or four months.
“I have been saying ever since I came to the club that there is a lot of ability at this club and we shouldn’t have been there in the first place.”
Neil Warnock: “I thought Sir Alex would play a stronger team today and to see him celebrating on the pitch [after being presented with the Premiership trophy] leaves a bitter taste.
“You can blame everyone really can`t you? What goes around comes around. I`m looking forward to the [FA] Cup final and the Champions League final.”
“There were two penalties from Rob Styles this season but he won`t be bothered tonight. He won`t be hurt. There were some other decisions, the commission [ruling that West Ham would be fined and not docked points over the transfers of Carlos Tevez and Javier Mascherano].
“It`s easier for Sheffield United to be relegated than West Ham… it will be fish and chip paper by Tuesday.
“A lot [of people] will be quite happy at the club being relegated. We couldn`t climb the final hurdle. It`s a horrible time, you feel sick in the stomach.
“You feel very bitter. It seems to be one thing after. It`s very difficult at this moment.”
