**On this day in 1992, Sunderland defeated West Ham United away from home to progress to the FA Cup quarter final. We led 2-0 within 25 minutes due to a John Byrne brace, before the hosts brought it back to 2-2. Ian Rush found a winner with less than 15 minutes to go though, to see us get passed the fifth round stage for the first time in 16 years.**
Division Two wasn't going well on February 26th 1992. The Denis Smith era had ended a couple of months previously and Malcolm Crosby was in temporary charge. We'd just faced Port Vale, Bristol Rovers, Tranmere Rovers and Southend United and hadn't won any of them.
The cup had brought some joy though, with a comfortable home win over Vale followed by a 3-2 win at Oxford United. Me and my mate Jon were in the home end for that one, along with about 50 others, until we were ushered out when the home support took exception to us celebrating the third louder than we should have. We were given a great reception by the red and white army as we headed round the pitch to join them in the away end. Proud ain't the word, my heart was beating out of my chest for the rest of the week.
West Ham were next, at Roker Park, and the fifth round tie ended in a 1-1 draw thanks to a John Byrne equaliser. The ticket allocation for the replay was tight. Jon and I missed out but were in total agreement about taking our chances elsewhere in the ground. Come kick-off time it was clear other red and whites had the same idea.
Gary Bennett was a loss, but Kevin Ball wasn't short of experience in central defence, partnering Anton Rogan in the middle, with John Kay and Paul Hardyman the full-backs, Paul Bracewell, Gordon Armstrong, Brian Atkinson and David Rush were further forward, behind Peter Davenport and Byrne.
It started well, with an iffy backpass setting up Byrne to tuck in the opener. Like us, the Hammers were struggling in the league but that league was the top flight and they had enough about them to do some damage. So it was a bonus when Byrne broke away and made it 2-0. It was too much for most of the undercover brigade to handle, those who had managed to keep a lid on their emotions for the first goal, didn't for the second. The natives were restless, stewards and police darted around us in the Main Stand and the atmosphere was tense.
It wasn't long before Martin Allen tried his luck from distance and beat Tony Norman with a low shot. Chances came and went at both ends and I remember thinking that if we got the next goal, we'd go through. Sadly, it went to West Ham. Bally was punished for a push and the free-kick which followed, from Allen, moved a bit, deceived Norman and found the net. Sunderland fans who had shown their colours were very uncomfortable now. I was determined not to make eye contact with any West Ham fans.
We weren't the only ones on the back foot. The Hammers were pressing for a winner and Norman redeemed himself with a fantastic low save to deny Mike Small. Julian Dicks was also in the Hammers side and it was always funny when a commentator gave us a 'Small...Dicks' gambit.
I don't know if Sportsnight delivered one on the night but thankfully some highlights remain on Youtube today. As well as helping my fading memory here and there, they've enabled me to fully appreciate Norman's save from Tim Breacker. It didn't look too bad from any view but a camera behind the goal at the other end shows just how well he did to claw the shot away from the top corner. Still one of the best stops I've seen.
Things appeared to be going West Ham's way and the chatter and goading of the locals was becoming uncomfortable. Then, with 12 minutes to go, sub Kieron Brady lifted the ball into the box via a slight deflection, Byrne headed it on and Rush pounced to hook it in from close range. 3-2 and game over for any Sunderland fans not in the away end who had managed to keep a lid on their emotions until this point. They were now very easy to spot and hear.
We held on. Having blown my cover I'm sure I wasn't the only one wondering what payback awaited on Green Street as I made way back to the Tube. So it was a bit of a surprise when I got an 'oi' accompanied by a lusty whack from behind before the players had left the pitch.
I braced myself, took a deep breath and turned around, to see one of the toughest looking buggers I've ever seen offering me his hand and letting me know in no uncertain terms what we needed to do to Chelsea in the next round. At least we kept our part of the deal.