Man Utd
On The Bench
West Ham
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19 |
Collins
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32 |
Tevez
*** |
On The Bench
Tevez provided the ultimate moment of irony in a day of rollercoaster emotions to preserve West Ham's top-flight status.
If Manchester United ended the 2006/7 season with the silverware, the campaign will forever be remembered for Tevez, whose mere presence in the famous claret and blue continues to cause upset and rancour among the Hammers' fellow relegation scrappers.
Somehow, the Argentinian forward has managed to rise above the rows which have swirled above his head and, in first-half stoppage time, it was Tevez who struck the decisive blow to keep the happy Hammers up.
The defeat did not cast a shadow over United's title celebrations but it cast a deep pall of gloom over Bramall Lane as Sheffield United slid back into the Championship.
Neil Warnock may grumble about Sir Alex Ferguson's decision to leave out five big name stars but he could have few complaints about the hosts' determination.
The arguments over Tevez could yet end up in the High Court but, on the pitch, where the game's highs and lows should be experienced, there was only joy for the Hammers and in particular owner Eggert Magnusson, who has never been shy at hiding his emotions.
It is hard to imagine such contrasting emotions within the respective sets of supporters.
While United prepared to party, collecting three individual honours before kick-off, including Ferguson's manager of the year award, and awaited presentation of the Premiership trophy after the final whistle, for West Ham's travelling army it was a day of shredded nerves.
They attempted to remain positive, even as the knowledge of Wigan's early strike at Sheffield United sank in, but as the game unfolded, their worst fears appeared to be coming true.
Despite promising to play his strongest team, Ferguson left Cristiano Ronaldo, Ryan Giggs and Paul Scholes on the bench and consigned former Hammer Rio Ferdinand to the stand.
Yet, after a slow start, United began to dominate.
In Wayne Rooney and Alan Smith, the hosts boasted two players who could give the lie to anyone who felt Ferguson's team were merely out to do Curbishley a favour.
Memories of title bids running aground at Upton Park in 1992 and 1995 are still fresh in enough United minds not to wish the Hammers any goodwill, quite apart from the Tevez furore, so the home onslaught was received enthusiastically.
Rooney had already bobbled a couple of efforts wide when Michael Carrick swung a corner to the near post when Smith met it with an astute flick.
Just as the ball looked set to drop in, up popped Yossi Benayoun to nod it away. The Israeli could hardly be viewed as a defensive bulwark but in such circumstances, unlikely heroes can be found and Benayoun remained solid and cleared again as Kieran Richardson blasted the rebound at him.
There was more anguish to endure for the Hammers as John O'Shea rose to power another Carrick corner goalwards, only for Robert Green to respond with a magnificent fingertip save.
West Ham's spirited defiance duly received its reward when Tevez struck.
Unable to deal with Green's long punt forward, United's defence was split by a exchange of passes between Tevez and Bobby Zamora, the Argentine eventually squeezing into the far corner beyond Edwin van der Sar.
In South Yorkshire, confirmation of the Hammers' scorer could only have twisted the knife into the deep wounds of suspicion inflicted by the decision not to dock the Londoners' points over the Argentine's controversial arrival with fellow countryman Javier Mascherano.
Curbishley's stomach must have churned 12 minutes after the restart when Ferguson sent Giggs, Ronaldo and Scholes on.
All three looked eager to make an impact as the Hammers bedded themselves in for a rearguard action.
The visitors efforts were aided by some less than accurate United passing around the penalty area and indeed, had Tevez or Luis Boa Morte been more accurate, the Hammers would have been spared a few word fingernails.
Still, with Green in top form, Curbishley had cause for optimism and with 15 minutes left, the former Norwich man stuck out a hand to stop Ronaldo's powerful header before diving gratefully on the loose ball.
United had more opportunities, with Richardson and Scholes both going close.
But once John O'Shea had been denied a penalty when Luis Boa Morte sent him flying, the Hammers could join in the party.
