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West Ham 1 - 0 Manchester United
Sunday 17th December 2006
Upton Park, West Ham
Manchester United had their Premiership lead cut to two points after Alan Curbishley masterminded a famous win in his first game in charge of West Ham.
Nigel Reo-Coker tapped in late on to earn the home side victory against a United side lacking a cutting edge.
Bobby Zamora had missed a gilt-edged chance for the Hammers before United's Cristiano Ronaldo had a shot saved and Ryan Giggs blazed high.
West Ham endured a nervy finish as United pushed forward but they held on.
Curbishley had been all smiles after emerging from the West Ham dug-out at the start and applause rang round the ground as he was introduced to the Hammers fans.
But the bubble of the vibrant atmosphere enveloping Upton Park was almost burst after only two minutes.
Giggs latched on to a cross at the far post and aimed a low shot across goal that was blocked by diving defender Jonathan Spector.
The home side were almost rewarded for their efforts only for an unmarked Matthew Etherington to head Lee Bowyer's cross wide from 12 yards.
Marlon Harewood sent a 25-yard strike rasping just high of the United goal before the visitors responded with a low Louis Saha shot, which the impressive Green palmed wide.
United were lacking the penetration and creativity in the final third to split the stubborn Hammers and Green was equal to Saha again when the striker tried to squeeze in a long-range effort.
The visitors were under pressure to produce a result following Chelsea's win over Everton but were growing increasingly frustrated as the game wore on.
West Ham then had Green to thank for keeping them level when he turned an angled Ronaldo shot round the post before Giggs blazed high from 10 yards.
Former United striker Teddy Sheringham found Harewood, who pulled the ball back from the byline for the on-rushing Reo-Coker to tap in from close range at the near post.
West Ham: Green, Spector, Ferdinand, Collins, Konchesky, Bowyer, Reo-Coker, Mullins (Benayoun 71), Etherington (McCartney 77), Harewood, Zamora (Sheringham 59).
Subs Not Used: Carroll, Tevez.
Booked: Reo-Coker, Sheringham, Ferdinand.
Goals: Reo-Coker 75.
Man Utd: Van der Sar, Neville, Ferdinand, Vidic, Heinze (Park 88), Ronaldo, Carrick (O'Shea 84), Scholes, Giggs (Solskjaer 73), Rooney, Saha.
Subs Not Used: Kuszczak, Silvestre.
Booked: Heinze, Vidic.
Att: 34,966
Ref: P Dowd (Staffordshire)
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