WEST HAM UNITED 0, MANCHESTER UNITED 2
- Sofiane Feghouli sent off after 15 minutes after 50-50 challenge with Phil Jones, the first of two controversial decisions by match officials
- David De Gea saves from Michail Antonio with the scores level
- Juan Mata opens the scoring after 63 minutes
- Zlatan Ibrahimovic doubles the lead with offside goal after 78 minutes
Manchester United chalked up a sixth consecutive league win, their 12th unbeaten game in a row in the league, with victory at the London Stadium thanks to goals by Juan Mata and Zlatan Ibrahimovic.
The win left them still in sixth place but now level with Spurs on 39 points and within just a point of Arsenal in fourth place although both teams play their game in hand tomorrow.
The feeling remains that Manchester United have picked up some of their old inevitable winning consistency to go with the swagger from recent games.
Jose Mourinho had made five changes for this game in an attempt to freshen up a team who had played just 48 hours before against Middlesbrough.
Marcos Rojo and Phil Jones returning to team in place of Chris Smalling and African Cup of Nations-bound Eric Bailly.
Matteo Darmian, Michael Carrick and Jesse Lingard replaced Daley Blind, Marouane Fellaini, and Anthony Martial.
In form Martial was rested after Mourinho had appealed for the French youngster to listen to him and not to his agent despite his match-winning performance against Middlesbrough.
Mourinho admitted that a “tired” United side were toiling until he brought on fresh legs in the form of Juan Mata and Marcus Rashford.
“He’s a Manchester United player with quality and the right DNA” said Mourinho of game-changer Rashford who created United’s opening goal with his movement and pace.
“It’s amazing for the fans.” opined Mourinho of the Christmas fixture congestion, “But it’s very hard for the players.”
Even against the ten men of West Ham for the majority of the game the Portuguese blamed “wrong decisions” by his tired players for the lack of breakthrough until he made changes to personnel which finally broke the spirited Hammers.
The Hammers controversially had Sofiane Feghouli sent off by referee Mike Dean after just 15 minutes following what looked a fair 50-50 challenge with Phil Jones.
Sofiane Feghouli dismissal changes the game for West Ham
Feghouli’s dismissal changed the nature of the game and United could have scored later in the first half but Antonio Valencia was denied by Darren Randolph while Jesse Lingard’s follow-up hit the post from within the six yard box.
10-man West Ham worked hard to match their visitors and could have taken the lead in the first half with Manuel Lanzini forcing a fine save from David De Gea but Michail Antonio should have put the home side into the lead soon after the restart when he had just David De Gea to beat following Lanzini’s through ball.
Jose Mourinho had made changes in the second half to try and break the rearguard action by Slaven Bilic’s team and was duly rewarded by the goals which won the game for the Reds.
It was Mourinho’s two half time substitutes Juan Mata and Marcus Rashford who injected some impetus into proceedings.
Mata was put through by Rashford for his 6th goal of the season after some direct running by the United youngster outfoxed his full-back to finally put United into the lead after 63 minutes.
Paul Pogba placed a shot wide while Rashford’s shot came off Randolph and hit the post but United’s second goal was clearly offside.
Zlatan Ibrahimovic doubled the lead with 12 minutes to go as the Hammers faded but he was just one of a trio of Reds players who were offside for the goal that finished off the home side’s hopes with his 18th goal of the season – his 12th in the last 12 games.