HAMMER TIME FOR WHITES
THE gates at Upton Park were shut long before kick-off when West Ham faced Leeds there in March 1974.
The 37,480, who packed the ground, saw a pair of future England managers pit their wits against each other in a match crucial to both sides.
Leeds were top of the table, but struggling for form, while Ron Greenwood’s Hammers were perched just above the drop zone.
Don Revie’s Leeds had set the pace from the opening day of the 1973-74 season, winning their first seven games and going unbeaten in their opening 29, a record start that stood until Arsene Wenger’s Invincibles of 2003-2004.
West Ham were thumped 4-1 at Elland Road during Leeds’ golden start to the season and by the time the sides met in the reverse fixture, the Irons had suffered the humiliation of an FA Cup defeat to Hereford, Bobby Moore’s final game for the club before he moved to Fulham.
Both sides headed into the Upton Park clash in poor form, having lost their previous two games.
Though Leeds were four points clear at the top, Liverpool had two games in hand – it was two points for a win in those days – while West Ham were just above the relegation places.
Leeds had Johnny Giles back in their side and he had a hand in the opening goal, after 32 minutes.
Giles chipped a cross towards the near post and Allan Clarke arrived unnoticed to head in, leaving the wrong-footed West Ham keeper Mervyn Day on the seat of his shorts.
But, 10 minutes after the restart, the Hammers were level.
John McDowell’s long pass picked out Clyde Best and he pulled the trigger just before Norman Hunter’s boot reached the ball, sending his shot past keeper David Harvey.
Worse was to follow for the visitors, Trevor Brooking crossing for Bryan ‘Pop’ Robson to head in.
Terry Yorath missed a clear-cut chance to level and Leeds were caught out on the counter-attack, as they looked for an equaliser, the outstanding Brooking helping Best’s effort past Harvey in the 84th minute to put the match beyond Leeds.
That was only Leeds’ fourth loss of the season and they went on to win the title, while the Irons stayed up after drawing at Liverpool on the last day. How times change.