Centre-half Dick Walker and goalkeeper Ernie Gregory were the men who saved West Ham United from a crushing defeat at Maine Road. Richard Walker at times opposed Manchester City’s high powered forward line single handed, for the inability of Yeomanson brought in at the last minute for Devlin, to hold the Second Division leaders' left-winger Clarke, and Forde’s lack of confidence against Hart, created gaping gaps in the Hammers' defence. Walker dealt with this situation energetically, dispossessing a winger here, an inside forward there and still finding time to prevent Westcott, City's burly but slowing leader, from being too much of a menace.
Gregory, for a period in the first-half and for long stretches in the second, was rarely out of action, throwing himself all round the goalmouth. His task was eased to some extent by City's bad markmanship but, even so, he must have envied Bert Trautmann who, in contrast, was virtually unemployed. The West Ham forwards' produced some pretty football but lacked punch. There were some clever moves by Gazzard and Barratt, an occasional dazzling run by Parsons but the line lacked leadership. And Robinson, too tightly held by Rigby, got few opportunities to supply it.
City were a goal up in five, minutes — a goal such as they are unlikely to score again this season! It happened when City burst down the field in a five-man attack, executed with a verve, which, if they were able to sustain it for 90 minutes. would guarantee them promotion the F.A. Cup and any other football honour that happens to be going. Forde had stepped into this rush and collided with Haddington when the West Ham left back was adjudges to have handled. Haddington, making his first appearance at Maine Road since being signed from Oldham took the free kick from just outside the penalty area. He kicked the ball force that hardly anyone saw it until it crashed against the roof of the net. City lost some of their power about this time, and West Ham came more into the picture when Parsons had Trautmann in trouble with a spinning shot, which the German goalkeeper had great difficulty in holding. Robinson was very unlucky not to equalise when he beat Troutmann in a leap for the ball and sent in a header which just rolled over the crossbar. Then Parsons caught the City defence asleep when he put Barratt through but the inside-right shot wide.
West Ham were still out of luck when Woodgate slammed a ground shot at Trautmann. which the fair-headed 'keeper saved brilliantly. Woodgate came in again after a classic move on the left and again Trautmann saved City. City, although without much of their first half polish, were the masters in the second half and West Ham, apart from the sturdy defence of Walker, Gregory and some neat play by Tommy Moroney. were hardly in the game. City's second goal came in a lightning thrust that followed one of the Hammers' few raids. Haddington passed inside to Westcott. The City leader sidestepped Walker and cracked home.