MANCHESTER UNITED took a big step to sealing a place in the Premier League top four with a tight 1-0 win over West Ham at Old Trafford.
Craig Dawson’s own goal was the only one of the game, which lacked spark throughout.
- RESULT: Man Utd 1-0 West Ham
- Man Utd XI: Henderson, Wan-Bissaka, Maguire, Lindelof, Shaw, Fred, McTominay, Bruno Fernandes, Rashford, James, Greenwood
- West Ham XI: Fabianski, Coufal, Diop, Dawson, Cresswell, Johnson, Rice, Soucek, Noble, Bowen, Antonio
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THAT’s ALL FOR TONIGHT!
Man Utd have taken a significant step forward in the bid to secure Champions League football after seeing off top-four hopefuls West Ham.
United will now head to Milan on Thursday as they look to progress into the quarter finals of the Europa League.
Milan do have an away goal, but United should have some key players back.
As for West Ham, it’s back to the drawing board. They need to get a result next Sunday against Arsenal if they’re going to keep up momentum in the race for Europe.
Goodnight!
DEVIL IN DISGUISE
HARRY MAGUIRE TURNED in a captain’s performance as Manchester United continued to be the best of the rest.
If the title is Manchester City’s, United want that runners-up spot to show continued improvement under Ole Solskjaer after last season’s third placed finish.
Nobody is more determined than Maguire who has been at the heart of a defence that has kept four consecutive league clean sheets for the first time under Solskjaer.
Given that the last two of those have come against champions elect City and inform West Ham tells you all you need to know about the improvement at the back.
Read More: Man Utd 1 West Ham 0 Match Report
GOOD RUN OF FORM
Man Utd head into Thursday’s game on a good run of form.
However, AC Milan have the edge after scoring a late away goal at Old Trafford.
McTOMINAY’s THOUGHTS
Scott McTominay got a vital touch on the ball to steer into onto Dawson’s head and into the back of the net.
Speaking to Sky Sports, he said: “Really important to win the third tough game of the week.
“West Ham set up really well, they made it hard for us first-half.. the message at half-time was to keep it the same, keep playing the best tempo you can possibly play at, and keep moving the ball from side to side.
“A lot of the boys were frustrated, but it’s not moaning, shaking your head, when you play against teams who sit in, and do it well … you have to play to the tempo that you normally play at and be positive in everything you do.
“It’s difficult to look at top four because we had a time when we were looking at the league … but Man City have had a terrific run of games, and we’re just doing our best to try and keep on them.”
OWN GOAL
Dawson found the back of the net…… but at the wrong end of the pitch!
FULL-TIME STATS
No shots on target for the Hammers. That sums up their performance tonight!
As for Man Utd, they got the goal and weren’t really put under pressure.
Solskjaer’s men are back up to second!
FT: MAN UTD 1-0 WEST HAM
Man Utd secure all three points without being put under any pressure.
West Ham made it easy for the home side and it was an own goal by Dawson which handed United the lead.
Moyes changed things once his side conceded and they were much better as a result.
But it was simply too little too late.
Solskjaer will be delighted that his side kept a clean sheet and climbed back up to 2nd in the table!
PEEEEEEEEEP!
THE HALF-TIME WHISTLE GOES AT OLD TRAFFORD!
MAN UTD CLIMB BACK UP TO SECOND!
MAN UTD 1-0 WEST HAM
90+2. YELLOW CARD!
Benrahma tries to break forward for West Ham, he rolls the ball through the legs of one but is brought down by James.
The United winger is booked as a result.
MAN UTD 1-0 WEST HAM
90. Three minutes to be added on.
MAN UTD 1-0 WEST HAM
88. Benrahma stands the ball up out wide on the left-hand side before playing a pass inside to Cresswell.
The left-back plays a first-time pass back to Rice who cuts inside onto his right foot and misses every Hammers player inside the penalty area with his cross.
MAN UTD 1-0 WEST HAM
86. Benrahma wins West Ham a free-kick on the halfway line.
MAN UTD 1-0 WEST HAM
84. James drives forward for United and makes his way towards the edge of West Ham’s penalty area.
The winger tries to float a cross towards the far post but Coufal heads the danger clear.
United look dangerous on the counter attack.
MAN UTD 1-0 WEST HAM
81. West Ham break up the pitch through Benrahma who plays the ball into Soucek.
The Czech midfielder then plays a quick pass wide to Lanzini on the left-hand side.
Lanzini breaks into the penalty area and plays a one-two with Antonio, but loses composure when it comes to getting the shot off.
MAN UTD 1-0 WEST HAM
79. Benrahma glides past his marker and manages to get to the byline and cut the ball back towards the penalty spot.
Bowen then flicks the ball back towards Soucek who sends a first-time effort towards goal.
But his effort is blocked.
MAN UTD 1-0 WEST HAM
79. Just over ten minutes left to play.
Fabianski denied FernandesCredit: Getty Images
MAN UTD 1-0 WEST HAM
77. OFF THE POST!
Man Utd catch West Ham out on the counter attack once again and it’s Greenwood leading the charge.
The forward runs at Diop, shifts the ball onto his left foot and sends an effort crashing off the post!
Poor defending from West Ham and in particular from Diop who let Greenwood effortlessly get the shot off.
MAN UTD 1-0 WEST HAM
75. YELLOW CARD!
Coufal touches the ball out of his feet and looks to break down the right-hand side.
Rashford gets across and takes the West Ham right-back out.
It’s not a great challenge from the United man and he’s booked as a result.
MAN UTD 1-0 WEST HAM
73. Diop loses out and James breaks up the pitch.
Man Utd have a four-on-two advantage and the Welsh international plays the ball inside to Fernandes.
The midfielders first-touch lets him down and West Ham get adequate numbers back to defend.
MAN UTD 1-0 WEST HAM
70. Fernandes shows some good footwork to dance inside of Diop.
But Dawson does well to get across and shield the ball back to Fabianski. Not long left to go in the second half.
MAN UTD 1-0 WEST HAM
68. West Ham are starting to get on the ball more and asking questions of Man Utd.
MAN UTD 1-0 WEST HAM
66. Fernandes is in on goal, but pokes his effort straight at Fabianski.
Both players are left on the floor after the collision but it doesn’t look like it’ll force a substitution.
BREAKTHROUGH
Dawson scored Man Utd’s goal heading into the back of his own net.
Credit: Getty Images
MAN UTD 1-0 WEST HAM
63. WIDE!
Cresswell swings a wonderful cross into the penalty area picking out Bowen in space.
The winger gets his angles all wrong and heads the ball wide of the far post!
West Ham are starting to play football and it comes right after the attacking double substitution.
MAN UTD 1-0 WEST HAM
61. DOUBLE SUBSTITUTION!
Noble and Johnson make way for Lanzini and Benrahma. Two attacking changes.
You have to ask; why not go for this game from the get-go? Why change things once you’ve conceded?
Gary Neville has been very critical of the way the Hammers have set up and they’re not exactly proving him wrong.
Source: Soccer - thesun.co.uk
