Tuesday night sees the final game to be played at one of the country's most famous grounds, the Boleyn Ground otherwise known as Upton Park. West Ham United host Manchester United in what will be a fantastic send off for the Hammers fans.
The ground was built in 1904 and the fans has seen over 100 years of top level football played at the ground. The very first game played was a 3-0 home win over historic rivals Millwall and the last will feature the modern age's most successful club.
The ground has seen such great as Trevor Brooking, Paulo Di Canio, Billy Bonds and of course England's greatest ever player Bobby Moore wearing the claret and blue shirts.
In the Premier League era the club have played 383 games winning 167 of them and considering tonight's opponent they have a history of ruining the Red Devils party. On the final game of the 1994/1995 season Manchester United needed a win to retain the Premiership as it was called at that time. Despite battering the Hammers rear guard for all of the second half the game ended 1-1 and Blackburn Rovers were crowned champions.
The prize on offer tonight isn't anywhere near as great as a league title but Manchester United are chasing a Champions League spot for next season. They currently sit 2 points behind current 4th place Manchester City with tonight game being United's game in hand. The result this evening will not guarantee anything either way, especially in this Premier League season of upsets. Having said that, the expected outcome is that whoever holds 4th a spot going into the final day will most likely take the prize.
Anthony Martial will miss out with injury and Manchester are sure to recall Marcus Rashford to the starting 11 after the side's toothless showing at Norwich. The two sides met a couple weeks back in the FA Cup quarter final with a 2-1 away win for the Red Devils. That win though was thanks to yet one more man of the match displays by Man Utds David De Gea. He seems certain to be a busy man once more tonight.
With LVG's men needing the win, Rashford will be the focus of much the match winning duties but I think this is a game the side need the experience and performance of their captain. Wayne Rooney has looked a shadow of himself in the no9 role but looked much livelier since his return from injury in the attacking midfield role. Having lost the acceleration of his prime, Rooney may have found a role that suits his work ethic, natural leadership and desire to be involved in play. The club need him to have one of his best games this evening with the season's best attacking player Martial out.
For West Ham the surprising smashing by Swansea this weekend past should have given them a point to prove. Regardless though the sense of occasion and passion of the home fans seem certain to explain to the players this is no normal game and has now taken the place of the cup final in their minds.
Coming into the Swansea game West Ham had been in great form and have taken many scalps this season. If a historic game needs a player to provide a historic moment then Payet has the magic in his boots to provide it.
It will emotional evening and possibly a dramatic one on the pitch.
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