West Ham’s Three Best Christmas Presents For Fans

West Ham have had a muddled history during the history of the Christmas footballing period, but have produced some memorable victories.

The closest fans will get to watch West Ham this year will most likely be from the comfort of their sofa due to current restrictions. The Hammers will play their Christmas fixture against Brighton at the London Stadium on the 27th of December.

Portsmouth 1-4 West Ham (2008)

Twelve years ago the Hammers travelled down to the south coast to take on Portsmouth for their boxing day fixture. Pompey wasn’t the lower league side they are today and were actually an established Premier League team. Portsmouth had won the FA Cup earlier that year and was competing in European football.

West Ham, on the other hand, had changed managers only a couple of months before the match. Alan Curbishley had left the club and was replaced by former Chelsea striker Gianfranco Zola. The switch was showing little success, but it was the match against Portsmouth that kicked off the Zola era.

The Hammers had never beaten Pompey in the Premier League and went behind early on after a goal from Nadir Belhadj. Despite going behind Zola’s side burst into life and destroyed Pompey in a fantastic display.

Jack Collison and Carlton Cole brought West Ham level and put them into a one-goal lead by the hour mark. Craig Bellemy then took the game by the scruff of the neck. The Welshman scored two brilliant goals inside the last twenty minutes to confirm victory for the Hammers.