Five greatest Premier League moments: West Ham United
West Ham United have never been too far away from drama during their time in the Premier League.
Here we look back at five of their greatest moments in the top flight over the past 25 years.
Delightful Di Canio
What surely has to go down as one of the greatest Premier League goals ever scored, Paolo Di Canio and the West Ham faithful will never forget this one.
The highest scorer at Upton Park in the Premier League era with 31 goals, none of the Italian’s other strikes came close to this sumptuous hit against Wimbledon in 2000.
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A fine chip from Trevor Sinclair found the Italian and the flamboyant striker produced a marvellous scissor-kick volley from a tight angle which flashed past Neil Sullivan and into the net.
Cue mass hysteria from the Irons support.
Farewell Boleyn
The Clarets final season at the Boleyn Ground was certainly a special one, losing just three times and beating Chelsea, Tottenham and Liverpool in the process.
And what better way to say goodbye to the famous old ground than with a ding-dong battle against Manchester United culminating in a late winner.
Diafra Sakho opened the scoring for the hosts but the Red Devils looked like they would spoil the East London party as Anthony Martial bagged a brace shortly after half-time.
However, spurred on by the spirit of Bobby Moore and West Ham legends alike, the Irons came back through Michail Antonio and captain Winston Reid to help seal an emotional end to their 112-year stay at the Boleyn.
Historic Highbury victory
Alan Pardew’s side enjoyed a fabulous return to the Premier League in 2005, securing a top-half finish and reaching the FA Cup final.
But it was their stunning victory at Arsenal which stood out for more than one reason.
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The Hammers became the last visiting side to take all three points from Highbury as they struck three times to beat the Gunners 3-2.
The match will also be remembered for a disastrous 45 minutes from Arsenal centre-back Sol Campbell who gifted Nigel Reo-Coker and then Bobby Zamora goals on a plate. Campbell would leave the ground at half-time in embarrassment.
Curiously, West Ham would then go on to become the first side to win at the Emirates.
Tevez the magician
West Ham were supposed to welcome in a new era of success with the signings of Javier Mascherano and Carlos Tevez from Corinthians in 2006.
But despite the fans early optimism at the world class signings, things turned soar as Mascherano left for Liverpool in January and West Ham were staring down the barrel of possible relegation.
Tevez, however, would come good and his fine end-of-season form meant the Irons would go into final day needing a result at champions Manchester United to be completely sure of survival.
And the Argentine would not let his side down as he scored a wonderful solo goal in front of the Stretford End, a place he’d become a little more familiar with the following season.
Demolition derby
West Ham always revel in sticking one over London rivals Tottenham.
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But they went to the North London in 2013 without a win at their bitter enemies since 1999 and with Spurs enjoying a decent start to the season, the odds on an upset looked slim.
Yet a 13-minute blitz in the second half saw the Hammers score three times to beat Andre Villas-Baos’s team 3-0 and ensure the bragging rights went to the Irons.
Winston Reid’s close range effort and a deflected Ricardo Vaz Te sent West Ham into dreamland.
But the day belonged to Ravel Morrison who capped off a fine display with a superb solo run and chip over the onrushing Hugo Lloris to dish out a derby day humbling to Spurs.
