English Premier League: Top 5 Comebacks This Season
The recently concluded English Premier League season has been one of the most dramatic campaigns in many years.
The way Chelsea came from behind to push Manchester United till the final weeks of the season, how Wigan morphed from certain relegation candidates into Premiership survivors, Wayne Rooney’s submergence from a goalless whiner to a rejuvenated, in-form goal scorer; this season was all about comebacks.
There were plenty of them this season, heart-stopping, finger-nail biting and heads-in-hands moments.
We take a look at the top five comebacks that changed the outcome of the English Premier League this season.
5) West Brom 3-3 West Ham
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This was a must win match for bottom club West Ham and 18th placed West Brom.
Roy Hodgson had just been appointed Baggies manager, and the players were looking to give him a maiden welcome in his first match in charge.
They did so in style, racing to a 3-0 lead within 30 minutes.
Then came halftime, enter Scott Parker.
His halftime speech inspired determined tears from West Ham, more so from their latest signing, Demba Ba.
His brace, combined with Carlton Cole’s header capped a magnificent fight back from the Hammers to secure a much needed point and lift them off the bottom place.
It wouldn't count for much, but that game remained one of the highlights of West Ham’s miserable season.
4) West Ham 2-4 Manchester United
2 of 5Manchester United were expected to stroll through this game, as West Ham faced a losing battle to assure safety.
But the Hammers have the quality to match any team on their day, and it certainly looked a bright sunny day for the hosts as they scored two penalties in the first half hour through Mark Noble.
Arsenal and Chelsea perked up watching this match; they knew an upset here would give them a real chance of catching Ferguson’s men.
But Manchester United never like doing things the easy way, now do they.
They must have gotten an earful from Ferguson at halftime because the team we all knew finally emerged in the second half.
They pressed and pressured West Ham relentlessly, and Wayne Rooney released frustrations after months of not scoring by netting a hat trick and cursing into a camera.
But that’s a whole different story. After this win everyone knew there was no stopping Manchester United en route to winning their 19th title.
3) Arsenal 4-4 Newcastle United
3 of 5No one would ever forget this match in a hurry, especially both these sets of fans.
Arsenal were 4-0 up in the first 26 minutes and seemed on their way to net a cricket scoreline and stay hot on Manchester United's heels.
But Andy Carroll-less Newcastle United had other ideas and were not about to sit back and take any more abuse from the Gunners.
With less than half an hour on the clock, the impossible happened.
Joey Barton started the resurgence with two penalties as 10-men Arsenal slowly began to crack under pressure.
Newcastle sensed they could get something from this game, and they did so thanks to Check Tiote’s sumptuous 25-yard volley three minutes from time.
Newcastle United had completed the comeback of the Premier League history, and as other teams found out eventually, the Arsenal defense were made out of circus clowns taking turns to make fools of themselves.
2) Wigan 3-2 West Ham
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The season end relegation battle came down to the wire; a loss for either team would seal their fate to the Championship.
West Ham looked every inch of having survival instincts after prolific striker Demba Ba netted a double to put West Ham two goals to the good with barely a quarter of the match played.
Wigan looked disconsolate and trudged back to the dressing room almost accepting defeat at halftime.
But never underestimate Roberto Martinez. The hushed Spaniard delivered when it mattered most.
No one knows what he told his players in the dressing room, but their attitude totally changed after the break.
Fresh substitutes Tom Cleverly & Victor Moses injected pace and power, and Wigan showed character to pull level.
West Ham looked doomed, and the brilliant Charles N’ Zogbia struck the winner in the 94th minute to condemn the Hammers to life in Division 1.
Wigan lived to fight another week, which they did successfully thanks to this magnificent comeback.
1) Wolves 2-3 Blackburn
5 of 5Both teams looked the safest on paper as a draw would be enough for them to avoid a final day relegation battle.
Wolves went into this game on the back of two 3-1 victories, so the fans were confident their side would see off Blackburn quite comfortably.
But the visitors played like a team possessed, and they ripped Wolves into shreds within 45 minutes to go 3-0 up.
With results elsewhere going against them, Wolves were destined for the drop and only had one half to save their lives.
True enough, they turned up a different side altogether after the break to turn the screws on Blackburn.
Jamie O’Hara pulled a goal back in the 73rd minute, but it still wasn't enough to keep Wolves in the league.
Then Stephen Hunt conjured up a little magic of his own.
He killed Wayne Hennesy's long ball with a deft touch, set himself up and curled home a beautiful effort into the far corner to keep Wolves barely afloat with three minutes left to play.
Birmingham heard that news, went on the offense and conceded a last-minute defeat, occupying the final relegation spot alongside West Ham and Blackpool.
Hunt’s goal not only relieved Wolves supporters of relegation tears, he also saved the club around £80 million and gave them another year of Premiership football.
Even the great Harry Houdini couldn't have pulled this off.
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