MAN UNITED 1, WEST HAM 0
Manchester United stretched their unbeaten run to 13 games as they reclaimed second spot in the Premier League hours after relinquishing it to Leicester City.
But perhaps the most striking statistic was that the Reds moved nine points clear of fifth-placed West Ham as a top-four place and Champions League football next season inched ever closer.
Craig Dawson’s own goal early in the second half proved decisive as United completed a league double over the Hammers for the first time since 2013/14.
While there was no glut of chances, United still have enough to win by a wider margin as they were wasteful in front of goal.
And the latest loss left David Moyes still without an away win at Old Trafford in 15 visits as a manager – 11 defeats and four draws.
The Hammers are now winless in their last 13 Premier League visits to Old Trafford and have lost all 18 Premier League matches on the ground having conceded first.
Embed from Getty ImagesReds’ manager Ole Gunnar Solksjaer said: “It was important to open up a gap between us and West Ham who are challenging for the top four.
“We are getting back to our best and we want to improve on last season and reach a final.
“It is another massive week. We were disappointed conceding a late goal against Milan and you don’t know how we would have reacted, but everyone wanted to show what they are capable of.”
Of the game, Solskjaer continued: “As expected, they are always going to make it hard for you. We could have been more comfortable towards the end as we had a few decent chances to finish it off. We like to make it hard for ourselves.
“We created massive opportunities, but the final pass or shot wasn’t good enough. Could have been two or three easily. But then it could have ended up in our net at the end as they are a threat.
“It’s about not giving them turnovers all the time. In the first 15 minutes we gave the ball away every time we attacked. It was a good set-play and we scored. You have to not open up stupidly as you know they are a threat on the counterattack. We kept composed and organised.
“We know West Ham are challenging to get in the top four, so it was a big result and we kept a clean sheet again. The experience and confidence will come. Big week – Europa League and FA Cup – so we’re looking forward to it. Hopefully get a few players back and put a good performance in.”
Moyes had no complaints about the defeat, explaining: “We didn’t do enough to earn anything from the game. I was not convinced by our performance.
“Once United got their goal they were happy to sit on it. We made changes and got better as the game went on.”
United made four changes from the side that conceded a late equaliser to AC Milan in the Europa League on Thursday.
In came Victor Lindelof and Luke Shaw at the back for Eric Bailly and Alex Telles respectively. Fred replaced Nemanja Matic while Marcus Rashford shook off a knock he picked up in last week’s Manchester derby and was in for Anthony Martial up top.
The big team news for the Hammers was that skipper Mark Noble began in midfield, his first start since West Ham lost in the FA Cup against Manchester United at the beginning of February.
He was one of three changes from the Hammers’ side that beat Leeds last time out. Said Benrahma, Pablo Fornals and Jesse Lingard – on loan from the hosts – all missed out. Jarrod Bowen and Ben Johnson came into the side.
It was a slow burner as it took United until the 25th minute before they created the first clear chance.
Bruno Fernandes drove at the Hammers’ defence, Mason Greenwood crossed from the right and Rashford headed disappointingly wide from six yards when he ought to have scored.
In a game where chances were at a premium, this could have turned out to be a costly miss.
United were denied by Lucasz Fabianski who turned Greenwood’s shot on to the upright, a fabulous stop after Fred and Fernandes had fashioned the chance.
Rashford then headed tamely at Fabianksi as United began to pick holes in the visiting defence.
The Hammers became the first team since Swansea City in March 2018 to fail to have a shot in the first half of a Premier League game against United.
It was also the first time they failed to have a shot in the first half of a league game since November 2019 versus Burnley.
The breakthrough came in the 53rd minute, but not from a Reds’ player as Dawson, under pressure from Scott McTominay, headed into his own goal from Fernandes’ corner.
United would have doubled their advantage but for a fabulous low save by Fabianski to turn away Fernandes’ drive.
And they wasted another glorious chance in the 77th minute when Greenwood was sent clear by Rashford’s slide-rule pass down the left. The striker cut in only to see his shot strike the upright when he ought to have buried it in the net.