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Robin L looks back to the 1994/95 Premiership season, when a mighty performance from Harry Redknapp's Hammers helped prevent the title from going to Manchester United...

After securing Premier League safety against Liverpool, north west rivals Manchester United arrived in east London for the final game of the season, with Alex Ferguson’s team looking to secure their third successive Premiership title. To win the league, they needed to get a better result at Upton Park than Blackburn could manage against Liverpool at Anfield.




Following the mid-week confirmation of safety, the footballing cliché of being “on the beach” was almost too literal, with the West Ham squad scheduled to fly out to Australia the following morning. The Hammers had nothing to play for but pride, and the opportunity to spoil the Mancunian party.

The first half started quietly with Man United looking for an opener, but it was Michael Hughes who put West Ham one-nil up on the 31st minute: a beautifully placed volley past Peter Schmeichel.

For a goal that had no significance to West Ham’s final season outcome, the roar from the Upton Park crowd was thunderous. Choruses of “You're not singing anymore” rang round the old ground, just as Andy Cole ran free to beat Mikloško, only to hit the post and rebound to safety.

Early on in the second half, our Czech number one was called into action, making a sensational full stretch right handed save from a Lee Sharpe header, reminiscent of the save against Chelsea earlier in the season.

The next chance fell to the unmarked Brian McClair, six yards from goal, whose header left Ludo with no chance. 1-1 in east London and news from Liverpool that Blackburn were drawing. Alex Ferguson’s side just needed to find a winner at Upton Park to clinch the league title.

The away side pushed on, with Andy Cole dancing through the West Ham defence, only to be denied by an onrushing Mikloško. Moments later, a Mark Hughes header destined for the bottom corner was expertly palmed away by the West Ham number one.

On the sideline, Ferguson was gesturing to his players that they could still win the league, urging his men to give everything for the remaining minutes. Andy Cole went through again, one-on-one with Mikloško, only to be denied by the giant Czech legs.

In front of the Bobby Moore Stand, the sulking striker lay face down in the grass, shocked and frustrated by the valiant efforts from the resilient West Ham ‘keeper.

A long Gary Neville throw-in was the last chance, falling loose in the box, only to be greeted by Mikloško diving low down to deny a late winner. As the clock ticked down, Schmiecel put in a long ball from the halfway line, and Ludo sprinted to the edge of his box to calmly pluck the ball from the air with two of the safest hands in the Borough of Newham.




The roar around Upton Park was as if a goal had been scored. Moments later the final whistle went. “It was probably my best game for West Ham due to the number of saves I made,” Mikloško later told The Athletic, when looking back on his career.

Manchester United finished the season in second place on 88 points, with Mikloško’s performance denying them two vital points to clinch the title. “The last half hour was like the Alamo,” recalls former Hammers midfielder John Moncur, referencing the 1836 Mexican defeat of their Texan oppressors, fuelled by revenge and vastly outnumbered. “Any other goalkeeper and they may have won the championship.”

Talking on BBC Sport that night, West Ham legend Trevor Brooking ticked all the football cliche boxes: “We were on the edge of our seats, it was gripping stuff. You couldn't have scripted it better. It twisted and turned”.

On the same show, Des Lynam said Mikslosko played like “a man possessed”. “If there is any spare champagne at Blackburn,” added Brooking, “please can you send it down to Luděk because he was outstanding.”

Mikloško is still remembered for that day, and not just by West Ham fans. “Another time I went to the [Man United] canteen in their academy,” Mikloško told Bez Frazi in 2021, recounting his recent agency work at the club, “Andy Cole was sitting there.

"Oh my god, no way, what are you doing here?! Go away. I don’t even want to see you!" He hid his head in his hands. Things like this mean respect, which is invaluable to me.”

Writing for manutd.com, Steve Bartram lists Ludo's display in his ‘Best Opposition Keeper Performances Against Us’: “Whatever the situation, whatever the range, whatever the angle, there was just no way past him. He repelled everything that every United player could conjure until time finally ran out and Blackburn took the trophy.

"Nearly 30 years on, I’m yet to fully forgive him.”

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