MANCHESTER UNITED have suffered yet another defeat but this time at the hands of West Ham.
Lucas Paqueta’s sublime outside-foot pass put it on a plate for Jarrod Bowen to put his team ahead
And it didn’t take long for Mohamed Kudus to double West Ham‘s lead.
This now means that the Hammers jump above United in the table and Erik ten Hag’s men have lost 13 matches before Christmas – the most in their history since 1930.
- RESULT: West Ham 0-2 Man Utd
- Live stream: discovery+
- TV channel: TNT Sports 1
- West Ham XI: Areola; Coufal, Zouma, Mavropanos, Emerson; Alvarez, Ward-Prowse; Soucek, Kudus, Paqueta; Bowen
- Man Utd XI: Onana; Wan-Bissaka, Evans, Kambwala, Shaw; Mainoo, McTominay; Fernandes, Antony, Garnacho; Hojlund
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“Stick together, stick to the plan”
Manchester United manager Erik ten Hag, speaking to BBC Match of the Day: “I think it was a decent 72 minutes where we didn’t take our chances. We should’ve gone in the lead but we didn’t and then it was one moment of switching off.”
Asked about United’s poor record against top opposition, Ten Hag added: “At this moment we are not top, but we have seen last week against the top of this league we were head-to-head. We didn’t score, we had the best opportunities of the game. There we defended very well for 90 minutes, that has to be always our standard like what we did there. You have to bring that to every game on the pitch.
“In 2023, we won a Cup, we played the FA Cup final, we were third in the league. There were highlights but we are over-performing, but in this moment we are underperforming. There are reasons for it, we have many injuries, so the team will be better if the injured ones return. We have to be calm, stick together, stick to the plan, we have to do it together.”
Credit: GETTY United have got problems
Paul Scholes: “I felt United were the better team in the first half without really thinking they were going to score a goal. I always felt, against West Ham, they are the type of team that make you fell comfortable, then all of a sudden a quick spark, and you are tow goals down.
“But United have got problems. Goalscoring is a big issue. That’s four games without a goal. In the second half, I can’t think of a save their keeper had to make.”
Joe Cole: “It was fantastic. It shows the importance of staying in the game. West ham for large parts were not at it at all. United looked comfortable. Then all of a sudden a tactical switch ,Paqueta moves into the false nine. It was a stroke of genius that turned the game.”
Credit: getty There’s always room to improve
Jarrod Bowen: “Today’s game is probably where the first goal is most important, they’re a really good side that caused us problems.
“We had our chances and one thing about us is that we keep chipping and plugging away to get the goal and we got the first goal and then did really well to get the second one as well and not put the game to bed but give us more comfort going into the last 20 minutes.
“Last few weeks Lucas [Paqueta] had five assists. All of us want to score goals and be the creative spark. We’re enjoying our football and one we knew how important today was to go into Christmas in the top six-seven and all we can do is keep winning games.
“Scoring goals comes with confidence, if you score a few goals and feel like you’re playing well. That helps for me. What I wanted to do this season was play at a good level and try and churn out those performances week in week out.
“There’s been ups and downs and games we’ve been disappointed with. It’s been a good start to the season, there’s always room to improve and the quality in the league this season especially in that top 10 it’s probably the best I’ve played in for a long time. We know it’s difficult but all we can do is win our games. If you want to talk about finishing in the top six then these are the games you have to win.”
Worrying
Erik ten Hag’s just completed his interview. Was quite surprising to hear him say that Manchester United were very good for the opening 70 minutes.
Poor Shaw
Luke Shaw is speaking now. I’m not sure there’s a player in world football that can look more forlorn and apologetic on camera.
Quotes coming up.
He’ll find me
West Ham goalscorer Mohammed Kudus speaking to TNT Sports: “As an attacker that’s what I’m here to do, to put the ball into the back of the net. Most importantly we got the three points. This is the perfect day for the fans and we wish them a happy Christmas.”
On Lucas Paqueta: “His vision and passing ability, when he gets the ball I just need to run and he’ll find me. I admire a lot from him.”
Kudos Kudus
Mohammed Kudus has just done his post-match interview on the touchline. He’s beaming and thanked fans for their support.
He was asked about his celebration, in which he sits on the advertising boards and takes a deep breath.
He’s asked what the meaning behind it was, he responded: “It doesn’t mean anything. I’m sitting down to get a deep breath! I’m tired.”
Splendid.
Credit: getty Sorry stats
Manchester United have failed to score in seven of their 18 games. No team has failed to do so more often in the Premier League this season.
They’ve also lost 13 out of their 26 games this season in all competitions.
Last goal? That was over six hours ago.
Credit: GETTY
The table
It makes increasingly grim reading for Manchester United fans. They’ve dropped to eight after that defeat, their eight loss of the season.
The Red Devils are now six points behind arch-rivals Manchester City having played a game extra. A Brighton win would see them relegated to ninth.
West Ham are now inside the top six with 30 points from 18 matches, two more than today’s opponents.
Credit: google Worries
As Jermain Defoe has just said, the biggest worry for Erik ten Hag will be that they’ve come up short against a West Ham team who weren’t really at the races. Miles off really.
What’s next?
Well, it doesn’t get any easier.
Manchester United will have to dust themselves down and prepare for the visit of Unai Emery’s Aston Villa on Boxing Day.
That’s become an increasingly difficult fixture, and will likely see the visitors enter as favourites with the bookmakers.
West Ham have a London derby against title challengers Arsenal at the Emirates Stadium. That’s on the 28th.
Credit: GETTY WEST HAM 2-0 MAN UTD
FT: And that’s that. West Ham clinch three deserved points against Manchester United in a fairly uninspiring match at the London Stadium.
United are now of Europe before Christmas. Out of the League Cup. And drifting aimlessly in the Premier League. As for West Ham, they are on the charge and have the Europa League knockout stages to look forward to.
David Moyes’ side are 15 points better off than at this time last season – and that’s without Declan Rice!
Credit: getty WEST HAM 2-0 MAN UTD
95: No midweek fixture for Manchester United this week. They’ve had a full week to prepare – what on earth have they been doing?
WEST HAM 2-0 MAN UTD
93: So by my count that’s nine goals and one assist in 22 appearances for Mohammed Kudus. Great signing for the Hammers. Don’t want to bring the mood down but losing him to the AFCON will be frustrating for David Moyes and Co.
WEST HAM 2-0 MAN UTD
90: The Manchester United fans are leaving the stadium now. There hasn’t been a glimmer of hope since Jarrod Bowen’s opener. They looked a defeated team the second that hit the net.
Six minutes added time.
WEST HAM 2-0 MAN UTD
88: Pablo Fornals replaces the goalscorer Jarrod Bowen. Couple of minutes of rest for the attacker ahead of their next clash against Arsenal on the 28th.
WEST HAM 2-0 MAN UTD
85: Double change for Manchester United. Reguilon replaces Kambwala and Eriksen is on for Garnacho. That’ll shift Luke Shaw to centre-back, for what it’s worth.
Kambwala the bright spot on another difficult day for the Red Devils.
WEST HAM 2-0 MAN UTD
83: Marcus Rashford decides to have a crack from distance but it’s nowhere near. There doesn’t look to be a late comeback on the cards, folks. United simply don’t look like scoring – over six hours without a goal now. Their longest run since 1989.
WEST HAM 2-0 MAN UTD
81: That’s the FIFTH assist for Lucas Paqueta in a week. It was also West Ham’s second half in six minutes today. The Manchester United players look shell-shocked, despite not mustering a single effort on target in the second half.
WEST HAM 2-0 MAN UTD – KUDUS
78: GOAL! Game, set and match. West Ham have wrapped up three points at Christmas courtesy of a gift from young Mainoo.
Mainoo fails to control a simple pass around the halfway line and Kudus pounces. He plays a one-two with Paqueta before turning Evans and firing the ball across Onana and into the bottom corner.
Credit: getty
WEST HAM 1-0 MAN UTD
75: Manchester United urgently need to end this goal drought, but it’ll be a lot more difficult without Hojlund on the pitch. Erik ten Hag took him off earlier, leaving the visitors with no genuine No.9 on the field.
WEST HAM 1-0 MAN UTD
73: It was Jarrod Bowen’s birthday earlier this week. What a nice gift for himself. Elsewhere Paqueta goes into the book for kicking the ball away after Garnacho is fouled.
WEST HAM 1-0 MAN UTD – BOWEN
71: GOAL! There’s the breakthrough! Jarrod Bowen has the opener at the London Stadium!
He plays a one-two with Lucas Paqueta, who lifts a sumptuous ball over the Manchester United defence. There’s a touch of fortune as Onana’s block ricochets back to him and he bundles it in.
Credit: GETTY WEST HAM 0-0 MAN UTD
70: We did have another chance, and it was a pretty good one for the visitors. Shaw drives forward down the left and fires in a cross that’s heading straight to Garnacho. He’s got a tap-in but there’s Zouma with a sliding interception.
Source: Soccer - thesun.co.uk
