HAMMER BLOW AT BOLEYN
MANCHESTER CITY once went to West Ham needing points and left empty-handed after missing a penalty, having a player sent off and being on the wrong end of one of the best goals ever seen at Upton Park.
It was March 1996 and City were 15th in the Premier League table, under boss Alan Ball (below).
Georgi Kinkladze had given them a lift seven days earlier by scoring one of the greatest Maine Road goals ever in a win over Southampton, but West Ham had the look of a tough fixture.
Harry Redknapp’s team had won four of their previous five games at the Boleyn Ground and, after 21 minutes, were ahead against City.
Julian Dicks had a header hacked off the line, but, seconds later, Iain Dowie had better luck. City keeper Eike Immel got a hand to his header, but couldn’t keep the ball out.
City should have been level before the break.
Kinkladze was tripped by Keith Rowland for a penalty, but Ludek Miklosko got down to his right to block Keith Curle’s spot-kick.
More frustration followed for City as Uwe Rosler fluffed his lines in front of goal and West Ham made the most of the reprieve by doubling their lead.
Michael Hughes aimed a corner at City’s near post and Dowie got there first to glance his header into the net.
Steve Lomas went close to halving the deficit, but his header was cleared off the line and the Northern Ireland international was sent off shortly after for hacking down Dicks after earlier scything down Ian Bishop.
Irons keeper Miklosko gifted City a way back into the game with 14 minutes left by spilling a shot and substitute Niall Quinn was on hand to bundle the loose ball over the line.
But there would be would no late escape for the visitors.
Hughes slung the ball over to Dicks on the left, he got it under control, looked up and fired in a rocket that many Hammers fans rate one of the best goals ever at Upton Park.
And Portuguese teenager Dani Carvalho scored another good one only 60 seconds later.
Quinn grabbed a late second for City so good that Hammers fans applauded its quality, but this was West Ham’s day and, at the end of the season, City were relegated.