Manchester United 2, West Ham United 1
CHASE FOR TOP 4 IS ON FOR MANCHESTER UNITED
Ole Gunnar Solskjaer got 3 of the 15 points he thinks is needed to finish in 4th place and a Champions League spot the performances will have to improve after below-par United managed to get past a West Ham side that were better than them in almost every department except for the scoreline.
The Hammers may feel unlucky after having a goal ruled out and hitting the crossbar late on but they also dominated possession, had more corners than United, and more shots on goal than the Reds.
By Solskjaer’s own admission United, currently in 5th place and 2 points behind Chelsea in 4th, can only afford one more defeat in their remaining 5 Premier League games.
And these are: Everton Away, Man City at Home, Chelsea at Home, Huddersfield Town Away, and Cardiff City at Home.
UNITED GET LUCKY AFTER BEING TACTICALLY OUTGUNNED BY WEST HAM
Manuel Pellegrini added physicality to the Hammers in the final 15 minutes in which Michail Antonio hit the bar and the Hammers should have taken the lead but instead Paul Pogba’s second penalty finished the visitors off after Ryan Fredericks brought down Anthony Martial.
After a 10th minute goal was chalked off for offside when Arthur Masuaku’s cross was headed down by Javier Hernandez towards Felipe Anderson for the Hammers winger to score.
Replays showed that Diogo Dalot may have been playing Anderson on making the win an even luckier one.
Robert Snodgrass’ tackle on Juan Mata for United’s first penalty after 19 minutes was also soft.
Both incidents cost West Ham dearly without VAR (Video Assistant Referee).
With Champions League football at stake and the Reds battling both Arsenal and Chelsea for entry into next season’s competition this win could be vital.
OLE APPLAUDS (APOLOGISES TO?) THE FANS
Ole Gunnar Solskjaer made a point of applauding all corners of Old Trafford at the end of the game.
He knew the Reds had escaped defeat again today and quickly curried favour with the loyal United fans by acknowledging them after the victory.
PLAYER RATINGS – Manchester United 2, West Ham 1
David De Gea: 7. Saved with his legs from Anderson but his casual pass to Paul Pogba as intercepted and he could do nothing with Manuel Lanzini’s cross that fell to Felipe Anderson for the equaliser. Saved from Pablo Zabaleta, Felipe Anderson, and crucially Michail Antonio as his defence failed him.
Diogo Dalot: 6. Better than Ashley Young at crossing from his first attempt. Reshuffled late on as United tried to get the winner.
Chris Smalling: 6. Set piece danger for United. Almost set up a goal for Marcus Rashford but Fabianski saved.
Phil Jones: 7. Decent defending, cut out a great Arthur Masuaku centre to Hernandez which could have seen West Ham score. Ended the game with a bloodied face and bandaged forehead after a flying elbow from Declan Rice
Marcos Rojo: 5. Rusty after a long lay off. Went missing for the West Ham equaliser. Had a shot which tested Fabianski in the second half.
Juan Mata: 7. Won a penalty after a collision with Robert Snodgrass. Some dangerous balls into the area but sacrificed as United brought on Marcus Rashford to chase a win.
Fred: 6. Didn’t exactly offer much protection to the back 4 and was no presence in midfield.
Paul Pogba: 8. Confident early spot kick without any of the previous trimmings but too casual and lost out to Declan Rice for the West Ham goal. Very positive with his second penalty, thrashing it into the bottom left corner.
Jesse Lingard: 6. Neat passing but quiet game.
Romelu Lukaku: 5. Produced better crosses than Ashley Young but too static and shunted to the right wing.
Anthony Martial: 7. Didn’t test Pablo Zabaleta but improved after Marcus Rashford came on. Was clean through on goal when fouled by Ryan Fredericks to allow Paul Pogba to hit the winning penalty.
Marcus Rashford (for Juan Mata, 55): 6. Improved the side but snatched at chances.
Mason Greenwood (for Romelu Lukaku 75): 6. Attacking substitution.
Andreas Pereira (for Marcos Rojo, 75): 6. Brought on in a nominally defensive role in a late reshuffle.
GOALS – Manchester United 2, West Ham 1
Man Utd 1, West Ham 0: 19. Paul Pogba dispensed with the tip toe run up and blasted his penalty slightly to the left, sending Lucasz Fabianski the wrong way, after Robert Snodgrass was penalised for fouling Juan Mata in the area
Man Utd 1, West Ham 1: 49. Felipe Anderson tucked in the equaliser from 3 yards shortly after the restart. David De Gea rolled out the ball for Paul Pogba but Declan Rice intercepted it and played through Manuel Lanzini who crossed for his team mate to score
Man Utd 2, West Ham 1: 80. Paul Pogba restored the lead from the penalty spot again (into the bottom left corner) after Ryan Fredericks brought down Anthony Martial who was clean through on goal.
MATCH STATS – Manchester United 2, West Ham 1
Man Utd: De Gea, Dalot, Smalling, Jones, Rojo (Pereira 75), Mata (Rashford 55), Fred, Pogba, Lingard, Lukaku (Greenwood 75), Martial
Man Utd Subs Not Used: Romero, Lindelof, Darmian, McTominay
Booked: Mata 34 (sliding tackle on Mark Noble)
Goals: Pogba 19 pen, 80 pen
West Ham: Fabianski, Zabaleta (Fredericks 76), Balbuena, Ogbonna, Masuaku, Rice, Noble, Snodgrass, Lanzini (Diangana 62), Anderson, Hernandez (Antonio 73)
Booked: Fredericks 80 (bringing down Anthony Martial)
West Ham Subs Not Used: Adrian, Obiang, Diop, Holland
Goal: Felipe Anderson 49
Referee: Graham Scott
Attendance: 74,478