United suffer late Hammer blow
Nigel Reo-Coker looks certain to leave in January
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Sunday, 17, Dec 2006 08:04
West Ham earned a shock 1-0 win over Manchester United at Upton Park in Alan Curbishley's first game in charge.
A goal from skipper Nigel Reo-Coker 15 minutes from time earned the east London club a vital win in their relegation fight.
But Reo-Coker did not celebrate his goal, fuelling speculation he will be leaving the Hammers in the January transfer window.
A below-par United were denied an equaliser by an inspiring display from goalkeeper Robert Green.
The defeat sees United's lead cut to just two points after Chelsea's dramatic 3-2 win over Everton earlier today.
The Hammers shaded the first-half and should have taken the lead on ten minutes when an unmarked Matthew Etherington placed his header high and wide from Lee Bowyer's cross.
Goalkeeper Green produced a good save on 20 minutes to keep put Louis Saha's low shot from 20 yards.
Thirteen minutes before the break, Bobby Zamora missed a glorious chance to open the scoring.
The striker out-muscled ex-Hammer Rio Ferdinand but failed to beat Edin van Der Sar from eight yards.
On 39 minutes, Wayne Rooney flashed in a header that whistled past Green's left-hand post from eight yards out.
United continued to be frustrated after the break with Cristiano Ronaldo's stinging free-kick spilled by Green but the goalkeeper gathered before Wayne Rooney could pounce.
On 55 minutes, Green kept out Ronaldo's goal-bound drive after the Portuguese winger cut inside from Saha's pass.
Curbishley brought on ex-United star Teddy Sheringham for Zamora which influenced the game.
On 61 minutes, Ronaldo cut the ball back for Ryan Giggs who blazed over with the goal at his mercy.
Upton Park erupted on 75 minutes when Sheringham set-up Marlon Harewood who crossed for Reo-Coker to tap in from close range.
United goalkeeper Van Der Sar went up for a corner in stoppage time which was punched away by Green as the hosts held on.
The result sees the Hammers move to 18th place, level with Middlesbrough after ending their run of five defeats from six games.