Playing in the Premier League for the first time, the Hammers started badly with home defeats against Wimbledon and Queens Park Rangers. In September Julian Dicks joined Liverpool in a swap deal which involved full-back David Burrows and midfielder Mike Marsh coming to West Ham. To add some power to the forwards, Lee Chapman was bought from Portsmouth and the following day scored in the 2–0 win at Blackburn Rovers.

Third Division Chesterfield were beaten 7–1 on aggregate in the League Cup but the Hammers found it tougher in the next round, losing 2–1 at Nottingham Forest. There was a good 3–1 home win against Manchester City and after away wins at Wimbledon and Southampton the team moved into tenth place. Over the holiday period West Ham bounced back from a home defeat by Tottenham to win 1–0 at Everton on New Year’s Day.

In the FA Cup Marsh scored his first goal for the club when Watford were beaten 2–1 at home and in the next round Notts County were edged out in a replay with a late goal from Chapman. Non-league Kidderminster Harriers were hard to beat on their tiny ground in the fifth round, but Chapman came to the rescue with the only goal of the game. There was an exciting match with league leaders Manchester United which finished 2–2, United equalising in the last minute. Drawn at home to Luton Town in the FA Cup it was a nervy 0–0 draw; the replay at Kenilworth Road saw West Ham lose 3–2 to end their chance of a semi-final place.

Confidence was low after the cup exit and there were depressing defeats at Chelsea and Sheffield United. Youngsters Steve Jones and Matt Rush were brought into the side to add some pace and Ipswich were beaten 2–1 at home, followed by an excellent 4–1 win at Tottenham. During April Martin Allen was the man in form, scoring four goals in four games including a 2–0 win at Arsenal. The final home game brought a 3–3 draw with Southampton and a thirteenth-place finish. It also saw an end to terraces at Upton Park after it was converted into an all-seater stadium.