24 February 1997
FA Carling Premiership
Boleyn Ground
West Ham United 4-3 Tottenham Hotspur
New boys John Hartson and Paul Kitson both found the net as relegation-threatened West Ham United took a white-knuckle ride out of the bottom three. " We rolled our sleeves up and this win will give us heart," bubbled Harry Redknapp as his new £7m strikeforce helped secure Hammers' first win in nine games.
Sheringham's early, bizarre, long-range header had looked all set to mark another night of Upton Park woe, before Julian Dicks nodded Hammers level and then Kitson turned the game upside down. Anderton hit back, though, and when Howells wiped out Hartson's thumping header, it looked like the same old story. But having made it 3-3, Spurs' hero turned villain by dragging down Hartson, leaving Dicks to rifle home a no-nonsense spot-kick winner with 19 minutes left.
After starting the decade in tenth place in division two, this win was surely the catalyst for Premiership safety, subsequent Sky TV jackpots, the influx of more quality signings and two high-flying Premiership finishes that ultimately led to a return to European football.
West Ham United: Miklosko, Breacker, Dicks, Potts, Ferdinand, Bowen, Moncur, Hughes, Bishop, Hartson, Kitson (Dowie 78).
Subs not used: Sealey, Porfirio, Rowland, Lampard.