FA Cup: Manchester United and West Ham clashes

The forthcoming FA Cup fifth round match between Manchester United and West Ham is the latest chapter of a story that has seen the two clubs face each other in the competition. From the first instalment in 1911 - won 2-1 by West Ham - to Manchester United's third round replay win in 2013, the ties involving both clubs have provided many talking points.

West Ham's 1-0 win at Old Trafford in 2001 is often remembered for Paolo Di Canio outwitting Fabien Barthez, although some West Ham fans may wistfully recall how their midfield trio of Lampard, Carrick and Joe Cole shone. Two years later, there was no such joy in Manchester; current Manchester United manager Ole Gunnar Solskjaer scoring the last goal in a 6-0 hammering.

Of the 12 FA Cup matches involving both clubs, four took place in the 1980s, as the two became very familiar with one another between 1983-1986. For Manchester United, two victories over the Hammers would be part of FA Cup winning runs; but revenge for West Ham in 1986 would prove a painful exit in more ways than one for Bryan Robson.

1983 FA Cup third round: Coppell gets the ball rolling

"The match between Manchester United and West Ham at Old Trafford has been declared the tie of the round but the recent form of the protagonists does not support this claim." David Lacey's preview in the Guardian was certainly accurate in relation to Ron Atkinson's Manchester United. Failing to score in four of their last five matches, hopes of ending their title drought were fading fast.

West Ham were enjoying a fine season under John Lyall, sitting in fifth place in Division One, just three points behind their FA Cup opponents. But without Alvin Martin, Trevor Brooking and Paul Goddard for the trip to Old Trafford, their chances of progressing to the next round were greatly reduced.

 

 

Remi Moses, Arnold Muhren and Frank Stapleton all put in fine performances in front of a crowd of 44,143, but it would be winger Steve Coppell who was the standout player. Scoring the opener in the 31st minute - Stapleton would score the second ten minutes into the second half - Coppell started United's journey to Wembley; sadly, injury would rob him of the chance to play in the final, and his career would finish in October at the age of 28.

"Manchester United are close to becoming a very good team," Patrick Barclay wrote in the Guardian. "It would be foolhardy to tip them for the FA Cup, or indeed any competition in which Liverpool are still participating, but Saturday's performance against West Ham gave grounds for optimism that Ron Atkinson's side could be the beneficiaries of any slip by the demi-gods." Brighton's win at Anfield was the opening United needed.

1985 FA Cup sixth round: Whiteside leaves West Ham feeling under the weather

Injuries and illness would dominate the lead-up to the quarter final. With flu sweeping through the West Ham squad, the club asked the FA to postpone the match. When this request was rejected, Lyall took his patched-up team up to Old Trafford to take part in a pulsating tussle in front of 46,769 spectators, played in an atmosphere that still makes the spine tingle.

Despite the absentees and struggling players that made it into the starting eleven, West Ham made the early running. Neil Orr, Alan Dickens and Paul Allen dominating in midfield, with Tony Cottee and Goddard a constant threat. But with every missed opportunity came the nagging doubt that the home team would make Lyall's men pay. 

 

 

A superb turn and shot by Mark Hughes broke the deadlock in the 20th minute, and although West Ham levelled through a Graeme Hogg own goal, a Norman Whiteside header past Tom McAlister saw United regain the lead just three minutes later.

Whiteside's second in the 74th minute appeared to put the game to bed, only for Allen to give the away fans hope with five minutes remaining. But after Gordon Strachan was tripped in the box, Whiteside completed his hat-trick from the spot to fire United into the last four.

"West Ham were wretchedly unlucky to lose this quarter-final by such a margin, having been easily the better team for most of the match," Ronald Atkin noted in his Guardian match report. There was some pride in defeat for the vanquished; for the victors, a couple of obstacles in the form of Merseyside giants stood between them and more FA Cup success for Atkinson.

1986 FA Cup fifth round: Revenge

Skipper Bryan Robson had missed the 1985 sixth round clash, yet his importance to the team was emphasised in his stellar display in the semi-final replay against Liverpool. In 1986, Robson's injury issues would provide headaches to club and country, with two visits to Upton Park proving particularly painful.

Limping off with torn ankle ligaments in the 2-1 league defeat at West Ham, Robson returned to score two goals for England in Israel to mark his 50th appearance. But his next appearance at Upton Park would put a huge dent into United's stuttering title bid, and place his participation at the World Cup in doubt.

The match in east London would take an age to kick off. A three-match, five hour marathon tie saw West Ham finally see off Ipswich in the fourth round, but the state of the playing surface in the decisive match indicated that the country was in the grip of a big freeze. Postponed on numerous occasions, the two teams would finally meet on Wednesday March 5.

A Frank McAvennie goal was later cancelled out by a Stapleton diving header, yet it looked as if West Ham had blown their best chance of progression, with keeper Chris Turner denying the hosts on a number of occasions, and Alan Devonshire missing a glaring opportunity. However, the main talking point would be Robson leaving the field in the 3rd minute after dislocating his shoulder; a heart in the mouth moment for Atkinson and England manager Bobby Robson.

The teams would face each other in the replay four days later live on ITV. Atkinson would see his faltering side fail to get past Phil Parkes, with Martin and Tony Gale also impressive. Mark Hughes, with only three goals in his last 17 matches, was struggling to cope with his rumoured move to Barcelona; Terry Gibson, and later Peter Davenport, would also fail to turn the ship around.

West Ham's opening goal came from an unexpected source. A thumping Geoff Pike header from 18-yards out stunned the majority of the 30,441 crowd. A controversial penalty awarded after Stapleton had blocked Martin resulted in Ray Stewart thumping a penalty home with such force that the goal frame wobbled as the ball hit the net. Atkinson's team had no answer.

 

 

"Nowadays, they rarely seem to fade and die; a bit less attractive, a lot more resilient," wrote Stephen Bierley of West Ham in the Guardian. "We showed tremendous team spirit, resolution and commitment, but it is important to settle down before we come up against Sheffield Wednesday," Lyall said. In 1964, West Ham defeated Manchester United on their way to winning the FA Cup. But three days later, West Ham lost 2-1 at Hillsborough in the sixth round.

There was no silver lining for the Boys of 86. But at least they had provided their supporters with some revenge over Manchester United after the FA Cup defeats, and a Milk Cup exit at Old Trafford earlier in the season. For Manchester United the defeat was one of many damaging blows in 1986; the writing was on the wall for the manager who had led the club to two FA Cup triumphs, but could not bring an end to the search for that elusive title.