MAN UNITED 3, WEST HAM 1.
Danny Welbeck ended his Old Trafford goal drought as Manchester United made it four straight wins with victory against West Ham.
The striker found the net for the first time on home turf since October 2012, a marathon sequence stretching back 18 home games.
David Moyes is hoping England international Welbeck, who has now scored six goals for the season, can add that facet to his game.
“It was good to see Danny get a goal and we want him to become a goalscorer,” explained United’s manager.
Welbeck’s goal was followed by further strikes by Adnan Januzaj and Ashley Young as United’s campaign appears to be finally finding some momentum following a faltering start to Moyes’ reign as manager. This was the second time this season they made it four wins in a row.
And the only disappointment for Welbeck was the knee injury he sustained and which forced him to limp off early in the second half.
It was also an afternoon when no criticism could be levelled at United for neglecting home talent as eight of the starting line up were either English or products of the Reds’ Academy. There were a further four English players on their bench.
United’s manager was pleased with his side’s win believing on another day they could have won by a wider margin.
He said: “It was another good win and on another day we could have scored more. Overall I was pleased how we played and the victory was never in doubt.
“We are beginning more chances and perhaps we could have had four or five. Chicharito (Javier Hernandez) was clearly onside.”
Moyes added that the only disappointment was the goal his side conceded towards the end of the match.
United, again without key players like Robin van Persie, Michael Carrick, Marouane Fellaini, Nani, Rio Ferdinand and Nemanja Vidic, made a bright start.
Tom Cleverley was denied by a superb save from Spanish ‘keeper Adrian, who was making his Premier League debut, with little over one minute played.
Phil Jones extended Adrian with a long-range drive, a free kick from Wayne Rooney narrowly cleared the crossbar while a deflected shot by Antonio Valencia again brought the best from the former Real Betis shot stopper.
The breakthrough came in the 26th minute after a terrific build up as Rooney and Welbeck exchanges passes. Welbeck, released on the left of the box, fired low past Adrian into the far corner.
Welbeck then turned provider with the assist for the United’s second which was scored by winger Januzaj.
The teenager cut inside James Collins and, from the corner of the six-yard box, shot low into the far corner for his third goal of the season.
United’s pursuit of a third goal continued after the break Welbeck narrowly failed to connect with a Januzaj cross while a header from Jonny Evans was cleared off the line by Mark Noble.
Hernandez also found the net only to have his effort ruled out for offside when replays suggested the goal ought to have stood.
United finally added a third barely three minutes after Young had made his entrance replacing Januzaj who was again at the centre of a further storm for diving.
Januzaj went down easily looking for a corner and was later book for diving, though Moyes thought he was anticipating a challenge from James Collins.
“We will have a quiet word with him,” explained Moyes.
Valencia provided the cross, Rooney the lay off and Young walloped an unstoppable shot from the edge of the box into the top corner.
The Hammer got onto the scoresheet with a consolation mnine minutes left through substitute Carlton Cole.
Cole breached the offside trap – played on by substitute Alexander Buttner – and raced clear before shooting through the legs of keeper David De Gea.