The moment when it kicked off

Watching Utd is a hazardous, especially if your in possession of a dodgy ticker.  About a couple of weeks ago, I meet up with a couple of friends to watch Utd play West Ham. The difference being we had tickets in the Sir Trevor Brooking stand.

This of course meant that our allegiance to Utd had to be kept silent. To be frank, that was an easy thing to do when you're surrounded by a couple of thousand tattooed skin head beer bellied West Ham fans, who if there looks didn't frighten you, their limited vocabulary certainly would have.

The atmosphere was great, unlike Fulham it was very edgy and there was a sense of real immunity between the two sets of fans. Mainly though, it was the West Ham fans doing the goading. The other noticable difference was that not a single West Ham fan was seated. It felt like a through back to the days of standing on the terraces.

The game kicked off and it looked promising for Utd. Passing the ball efficiently and with purpose. Then from a long punt down, West Ham were on the attack. Carlton Cole bearing down towards Van der Sar. The ball bounced once and then as Cole tried to lift the ball over Evra, it struck his hand. Penalty!

Mark Noble scored from the penalty with ease. As Utd fans we thought theres nothing to worry about its just gone 10 minutes, plenty of time for Utd to recover. Well in no more than another 10 minutes, Utd concede another penalty. Unlike the first, this one definitely looked a harsh decision. Vidic had come over to Carlton Cole, Cole seemed to trip over Vidic's foot. It didn't matter the referee had already given the penalty. Up stood Noble, and again he despatched the dot with ease, giving West Ham a two goal advantage.

The fans around us were delirious with joy, chanting "You're not going to win anything". Boy it was hard to stomach that. But in keeping with our under cover status, we joined in with the chanting. I don't think I've ever felt so dirty at a football match.

Before half time, Utd continued their patient, efficient passing. It paid off with two attempts at goal. Though Green was equal to them. Surprisingly I felt calm, I remember thinking if we kept at two nil, Utd were still in it.

Well the second half started and what that led to was a four goal blitz...