Sometimes the “West Ham way” feels like nothing more than just doing things the hard way. With a penchant for playing down to the competition or failing to show up against the Premier League’s upper echelon. It can be hard to be a Hammers fan at times.
However, those two things sometimes lead to what become the most memorable matches of all.
Below we have compiled our list of the best West Ham comebacks, some long-forgotten, others undoubtedly unforgettable (by both the Hammer-faithful and betting public alike).
March 17, 1976: West Ham 3-1 ADO Den Haag
West Ham had dug themselves into quite a hole in the first leg of the European Cup Winners’ Cup quarter-final, losing 4-2 to ADO Den Haag (being down 4-0 at one point). But without manager John Lyall (flu), an extension of West Ham’s European campaign that year seemed like a lost cause.
But two second half goals from BIlly Jennings saw hope spring anew at Upton Park, as West Ham needed a 2-0 or 3-1 victory (or greater) if they wanted to go through without playing extra time. What they needed is what they got, and a Billy Bonds penalty make in the 38th put the home side up 3-0, and eventuaBlly through on aggregate.
February 12, 2000: West Ham 5-4 Bradford City
Just about all had to go wrong before it could go right for West Ham in a February 2000 match basement-dwellers Bradford City. Keeper Shaka Hislop was lost in the fifth minute with a broken leg, an opportunity BFC was quick to jump on by scoring for an early lead in the 30th.
From there, the clubs would trade leads with West Ham going up 2-1 then down 2-4 in a crazy 10-minute period of play. But still with much of the second half to do work, the Hammers chipped away at the lead and goals from Jamie Lawrence, Paolo Di Canio, and Joe Cole pulled the score level in the 70th. It was then none other than Frank Lampard that would score the ninth and final goal of the unbelieveable match with a top of the box strike.
February 12, 2011: West Brom 3-3 West Ham
The Roy Hodgson-era at West Brom looked like it was off to a dream start when the Baggies soared to a 3-0 lead in the first half. Despite the scoreline, the Hammers remained resilient and Demba Ba, in his first start in a claret and blue kit, scored a close ranger in the 50th to finally get West Ham on the board.
A double from Demba led the Hammers to a draw after being down 3-0 at The Hawthorns (Source: DailyMail.co.uk)
Minutes later Carlton Cole would head in a cross to cut the lead to one, setting the stage for more Ba heroics. A volley inside the box would be the second of the day for the man that would lead his club in goals that season, making official one of the club’s greatest comebacks.
March 5, 2016: Everton 2-3 West Ham
West Ham was having major road woes in the 2015-16 season, losing eight of their last nine heading into Goodison Park in March 2016. That trend looked like it was going to continue when the 10-men Toffees went up 2-0 just after the half.
West Ham spotted 10-man Everton two goals before staging a stunning comeback. (Source: ITV.com)
But goals from Michail Antonio, Diafra Sakho, and Dimitri Payet in the last 12 minutes of the game finally saw the Hammers take advantage of being a man up. The unforgettable win allowed West Ham to jump Man U in the table and into contention for that precious 5th position.
With sports betting, when things are going good in East London, you’ll feel like you’re on top of the world. However that isn’t always the case, because when you don’t know enough about how to place a bet it can go all wrong for you. No matter what the score line is. Make sure you do your reading before you place any bets, you don’t want to be out of pocket before kickoff.
May 10, 2016: West Ham 3-2 Manchester United
The final match at Upton Park was going to be one remembered by all Hammers supporters no matter what the result was. But what actually happened still seems too good to be true and down 2-1 in the 76th, Michail Antonio was able to draw the score level on a short header.
The last match at Upton Park was one to remember, a legendary 3-2 comeback over Man U. (Source: BelfastTelegraph.co.uk)
The fairy-tale ending was not yet complete though, and minutes later it was the head of Winston Reid that would help the ball into goal in what would be the final goal at the fabled ground. The win was equally as important in the EPL campaign itself, putting the Hammers just a point behind Man U in a hunt for a top five finish.
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