WINSTON REID proved the unlikely hero as West Ham claimed a thrilling 3-2 Premier League win over Manchester United in the final game at Upton Park to leave the visitors’ Champions League hopes hanging by a thread.

    West Ham’s farewell to Upton Park was delayed by 45 minutes after Manchester United arrived late to the stadium, with their team bus coming under attack from fans outside the ground who threw bottles and other objects.

    The hosts made a superb start when the match got underway, Diafra Sakho putting them ahead after 10 minutes with his first goal in six Premier League games.

    However, United – which had the chance to go a point clear of rival Manchester City in the battle for a place in the top four – turned things around thanks to a second-half double from Anthony Martial, who returned along with Marcus Rashford after missing last Saturday’s win at Norwich City.

    Slaven Bilic’s men refused to say goodbye to their famous home with a defeat, however, as Michail Antonio headed in a leveller just four minutes after Martial’s second.

    And Reid settled a frenetic contest in West Ham’s favor in the 80th minute with his header from Dimitri Payet’s cross proving too strong for David De Gea to ensure a memorable sendoff and boost the hosts’ Europa League aspirations.

    It did not take long for Upton Park crowd to be sent into raptures as Sakho converted at the end of a well-worked team move.

    Aaron Cresswell played a superb pass down the left for Manuel Lanzini, whose pull back was curled into the bottom-left corner by Sakho with a precise finish. Andy Carroll wasted a glorious chance to double the lead nine minutes later as he was sent through on goal, but, with England manager Roy Hodgson in the stands, the striker could only muster a tame finish that David De Gea saved easily.

    (SD-Agencies)