If only Manchester United played West Ham every week, the Premier League might be less of a closed shop. Last season, West Ham completed an unlikely double over the champions, ensuring their Premiership survival through Carlos Tevez in the final game of the season. Yesterday, they turned a half-time deficit into thrilling victory through two headed goals in the space of five minutes, ending Manchester United’s dash for the title after five straight wins and bringing their own supporters a welcome dose of festive cheer before a New Year’s Day visit to Arsenal.

Arsenal’s handsome 4-1 victory at Everton only compounded United’s woes. “If you go into the New Year as leaders you have a massive chance,” said Sir Alex Feguson. “We have a massive chance anyway, but it was disappointing.” A potential four-point lead has been turned into a two-point deficit.

It was as if the morning’s league leaders were distracted by the universal acclaim for one of their number at Upton Park. “And a warm welcome for number 32, Hammer of the Year, Carlos Tevez” came the announcement. Applause tumbled from all corners of this grand old stadium, a reflection not just of the Argentine’s priceless goals in the critical run to safety, but his commitment to the cause.

“It was never going to be any different,” said Alan Curbishley, who had more reason than most to thank the Argentine. “What he did for us last year was fantastic.”

Tevez, who is not one to seek the limelight, raised his hands above his head in applause too, but seemed to have no heart for the game, making little impact on his homecoming before being substituted – to another handsome reception, borne of relief this time – just after the hour. The East End love-in seemed to disconcert his teammates almost as much as West Ham, who played with five in midfield and the excellent Carlton Cole as a lone striker, played the neater and more industrious football.

Cole has been a revelation this season, his confidence boosted by a prolonged run in the side, his strength a constant threat to Rio Ferdinand and Nemanja Vidic at the centre of an unusually hesitant United defence. With Darren Fletcher and Owen Hargreaves in central midfield and Ryan Giggs in one of his showboating moods, United lacked creativity in midfield.

A double miss, initially by Hayden Mullins, whose shot from an acute angle cracked the crossbar, and then by Mark Noble, who lofted the follow-up over the bar, punctured the buoyancy of the home fans.

A turning point as early as the eighth minute? It seemed so five minutes later when Giggs measured a precise cross which Ronaldo headed past Robert Green from close range. It was Ronaldo’s 18th goal of the season. But instead of settling into their free-flowing rhythm, United remained disjointed, lacking intelligence and industry.

West Ham should have profited from disarray in United’s defence on the stroke of half-time. All Cole needed to cap a near-perfect half leading the line was a goal, and he should have had one, heading Noble’s pinpoint cross over the bar.

If the hairdryer was out at half-time, it would have been whirring in the visitors’ dressing room. Curbishley could ask no more of his side. Yet West Ham continued to dominate much of the possession without adding penetration to the slickness of their passing.

In the 66th minute the game seemed to have lurched beyond the home team as Jonathan Spector, backtracking, lost his bearings and handled Louis Saha’s cross. Referee Mike Dean pointed to the spot and Ronaldo strode forward. Aware of Robert Green’s excellent record on penalty kicks, the league’s leading scorer was fractionally too precise, driving the ball firmly to Green’s right and just past the post. Every Christmas arrived at once in the East End. Ronaldo could not believe the miss, but West Ham began to believe this might yet be their day.

An innocuous foul by Giggs on John Pantsil, a right-back drafted in to the right of midfield in the second half, produced two further corners for West Ham, from the second of which Anton Ferdinand rose to head home. A draw would have been welcome enough, but five minutes later, from another set piece, a free kick also earned by Pantsil, Matthew Upson thumped another header past Tomasz Kuszczak for the winner.

Manchester United barely raised a gallop in response, though Ferguson seemed in unusually forgiving mood afterwards. “We’re human beings,” said the United manager. “We can’t be perfect all the time. We can’t complain, they were the better team.” The only piece of good news for the champions was that Wayne Rooney, laid low by a virus, will be fit for the visit of Birmingham on New Year’s Day. “These things go in cycles,” said Ferguson of West Ham’s voodoo over his side.

Ferguson – and his title rivals – will note with interest that West Ham are the visitors to Old Trafford on the final day of the season.

Match stats

Star man: Carlton Cole (West Ham)

Player ratings

West Ham: Green 6, Neill 4, Upson 6, Spector 6, McCartney 6, Solano 7 (Pantsil 49min, 6), Parker 5 (A Ferdinand 55min, 7), Noble 7, Mullins 7, Ljungberg 5 (Ashton 70min), Cole 8 Star man: Carlton Cole (West Ham)

Man Utd: Kuszczak 6, Brown 5 (O’Shea 89min), R Ferdinand 5, Vidic 5, Evra 5, Ronaldo 6, Hargreaves 6 (Nani 80min), Fletcher 6, Giggs 3, Tevez 4 (Anderson 64min), Saha 5

Scorers: West Ham: Fedinand 77, Upson 82 Man Utd: Ronaldo 14

Yellow cards: West Ham: Pantsil, Mullins

Referee: M Dean

Attendance: 34,966