Weird red cards, opportunities lost, bubbles burst – Chris Lakey looks at some of City’s clashes with West Ham
February 13, 2016
City 2 West Ham 2
When you are playing in the top flight, two-goal leads can be a thing of luxury - they are most definitely not to be wasted.
Three weeks earlier City had blown a 3-1 home lead against Liverpool, going on to lose 5-4.
This time, they were in control with goals from Robbie Brady on 54 minutes and Wes Hoolahan after 65. It should have been cruise control. But once again, City blew it. West Ham burst City's bubble inside two minutes, Dimitri Payet pulling a goal back on 74 minutes and Mark Noble levelling it soon afterwards.
"It is the same old story," said Brady. "We can't let teams back into the game when we have a two-goal lead."
Former City Chris Sutton had seen it as a must-win game: "I just think if you look at Liverpool when they were 3-1 up and lose, two goals up today, this will do Norwich so much damage psychologically."
How right he was: City won just three more of their remaining 12 games, losing eight - and were relegated.
November 9, 2013
City 3 West Ham 1
City went into this game a week after a 7-0 mauling at Manchester City. They'd been leaking goals - before that they let in seven in their previous two games, and the signs from the opening 45 minutes against the Hammers suggested things weren't getting any better in a hurry.
The visitors deservedly led at half-time through Ravel Morrison, a player who lost his way but, somewhat surprisingly, could be facing City again this season, having been on trial with fellow Premier League new boys Sheffield United.
But one-time City triallist, goalkeeper Jussi Jaaskelainen, handed City a way back in, fouling Gary Hooper, who converted the resulting penalty on 54 minutes, Robert Snodgrass - now at West Ham - put City ahead on 72 minutes and Leroy Fer secured the points in the final minute.
It was a win which moved City out of the relegation zone and above West Ham, but it was City who slipped out of the top flight at the end of the season.
February 21, 2004
City 1 West Ham 1
Darren Huckerby rode to the rescue on a special day for City fans.
The Hammers had taken the lead just after the hour mark through Marlon Harewood, but Hucks earned a point on 76 minutes, making the most of a poor headed clearance by Tomas Repka.
Huckerby wanted a penalty when his shirt appeared to be tugged by Christian Dailly, but the most bizarre event of the night must have been the dismissal of West Ham winger Matthew Etherington. Already on a booking, Etherington refused to listen to a series of warnings from referee Ray Olivier to place the ball in the quadrant at a corner. In front of the Snake Pit. Who made it clear that he was bending the rules. Result: red card.
City were top of the table at the time, but their lead was cut to three points, ahead of West Brom. In the end it didn't matter, of course, as they won the old First Division title.
What shouldn't be forgotten is that on this day the South Stand fully reopened - former City boss and ex-West Ham player ken Brown conducting the official opening ceremony
January 24, 1994
West Ham 3 Norwich 3
A Chris Sutton 'hat-trick', Jeremy Goss's return for the first time 'since Milan' a fitting acknowledgement for the passing of one of the game's greats - and a football match to suit all fans.
The crowd observed a minute's silence for Sir Matt Busby before settling down to watch a thrilling game of football.
Goss was back for the first time since City's Uefa Cup adventure came to a halt in Italy the previous month, but it was Sutton who stole the headlines - for Norwich, at least.
His shot squeezed past Ludek Miklosko after just five minutes but on 37 minutes Martin Allen's free-kick - following a foul on him by Goss - hit Sutton and went past Bryan Gunn.
Steve Jones then put the Hammers ahead a minute into the second half, but Sutton levelled on 56 minutes, from Colin Woodthorpe's cross.
Ruel Fox put City ahead again with 11 minutes left, but the points were shared when Trevor Morley grabbed an 84th-minute equaliser.
"We let it slip and we must take a leaf out of Arsenal's book," said City boss John Deehan. "They don't concede three in a month."
Manager
Manuel Pellegrini
The Chilean's playing career was confined to one club, Universidad de Chile, where he played 450-plus games. He also made 28 appearances for his country, during the same period, 1973 and 1986.
Pellegrini's coaching career has taken him to Spain, Argentina, Chile, China, Ecuador and England.
The 65-year-old spent several years in South America before heading to Villareal in 2004. Five years later he took over at Real Madrid, but was sacked a year later, having finished runners-up to Barcelona.
Pellegrini turned down the opportunity to coach Mexico and instead joined Malaga, taking them to fourth in the league and, for the first time, into the Champions League. But he chose the club's end-of-season awards ceremony to announce his departure (no hard feelings... five years later he had a roundabout in Malaga named in his honour).
Joined Manchester City in 2013, and won the League Cup and the Premier League title. Missed out the following season and left in 2016. Hit the road again, to manage Hebei China Fortune before joining West Ham in May last year.
Last season
Finished 10th, five points behind the final Europa League qualifying place.
The owners invested heavily in the squad, twice breaking their transfer record, although it took a while for their season to get going. But relegation was never seriously an issue. Ended the campaign with three wins on the spin - Hammers fans will be happy if that momentum carries forward. The move from Upton Park to the London Stadium has seen the Hammers occupy third place in the average home attendance table, with more than 58,000 watching games.
New season
Could well be without star striker Marko Arnautovic - seems Pellegrini and his West Ham team-mates have had enough of the moody Austrian, who is heading off to China.
They've off-loaded Andy Carroll too, so perhaps need to invest up front. Hammers fans will be looking for their side to kick on from last season - chances are that they will.
HEAD TO HEAD
NW D WHW
League 14 16 16
FA Cup 1 1 3
League Cup 1 0 0
Total 16 17 19
Last 10 league games
2015/2016
PREMIER LEAGUE
Saturday, February 13, 2016
Norwich 2 West Ham 2
Saturday, September 26, 2015
West Ham 2 Norwich 2
2013/2014
PREMIER LEAGUE
Tuesday, February 11, 2014
West Ham 2 Norwich 0
Saturday, November 9, 2013
Norwich 3 West Ham 1
2012/2013
PREMIER LEAGUE
Tuesday, January 1, 2013
West Ham 2 Norwich 1 Saturday, September 15, 2012 Norwich 0 West Ham 0
2003/2004
DIVISION ONE
Saturday, February 21, 2004
Norwich 1 West Ham 1
Wednesday, October 15, 2003
West Ham 1 Norwich 1
1994/1995
PREMIERSHIP
Saturday, March 11, 1995
West Ham 2 Norwich 2
Saturday, August 27, 1994
Norwich 1 West Ham 1
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