Once once more transferring inside a single level of breaking into the top-four, Manchester United picked up a 1-0 victory in opposition to West Ham at Old Trafford on Sunday afternoon.
While the previous Premier League champions might need needed to overcome a late flurry from the Hammers, Erik ten Hag’s aspect dominated massive spells of the sport and can really feel that they had been deserving off most factors right here.
With the sport finally determined by Marcus Rashford’s first-half header, the Red Devils additionally prolonged their unbeaten run to eight matches throughout all competitions.
However, whereas United may nonetheless be firmly battling it out within the Champions League chase, the Hammers discover themselves desperately looking for some stability as they proceed wanting over their shoulder on the drop zone.
In what was usually a cagey affair at Old Trafford on Sunday afternoon, we have now taken a have a look at the principle speaking factors.
Manchester United can declare a Champions League return
While Manchester United might need marked their return from September’s worldwide break earlier within the month with a 6-3 drumming away on the Etihad, ten Hag’s aspect have definitely come roaring again over latest weeks.
Once once more sat only a single level adrift of breaking into the top-four, the previous Ajax boss finds his aspect within the midst of an eight-match unbeaten run and the temper of their camp needs to be at an actual excessive.
Cruising their strategy to the knockout stage of this 12 months’s Europa League, Sunday’s hosts have additionally impressed with their new-found resolve on the again.
With David de Gea producing a pair of important saves right here, ten Hag’s males have now recorded three clear sheets on the spin they usually have an actual platform to construct off.
With their eye-catching purple patch highlighted by a 2-0 victory in opposition to Tottenham on October nineteenth, United are additionally turning Old Trafford into considerably of a fortress.
Rashford discovering his finest at a vital time
While it might need been a sure Cristiano Ronaldo who stole a lot of the headlines forward of Sunday’s showdown, it was United’s homegrown famous person who proved to be the match-winner in Manchester.
Although Rashford might need endured a public battle over the previous 12 months, the England worldwide definitely seems to be having fun with life below ten Hag.
Making his personal piece of historical past after bagging his one centesimal skilled strike, Rashford has underlined his worth to the Champions League hopefuls and has obtained a string of reward from his new boss.
Putting in a Man of the Match show at Old Trafford and inflicting the Hammers a string of points, there is no such thing as a doubt that the 25-year-old can have his sights set on punching a ticket in Gareth Southgate’s World Cup squad.
Racking up seven targets throughout all competitions to date this season, might Rashford be the person to fireside United to a top-four return this season?
West Ham can’t simply have a go for the ultimate jiffy
While West Ham might need lastly determined to have a go within the remaining phases of Sunday’s contest at Old Trafford, the Hammers will as soon as once more be ruing one other toothless show within the remaining third.
However, though the east London outfit might need missed a string of late possibilities, they didn’t file a single shot on course till halfway via the second-half.
Recording simply 11 Premier League strikes from their opening 13 appearances, the visitors have struggled to search out any type of scientific edge within the remaining third since opening the 2022/23 marketing campaign.
Although West Ham might need actually damaged the financial institution throughout the summer season switch window, Moyes’ inconsistent squad now discover themselves holding only a three-point buffer from slipping into the relegation zone.
While the previous Manchester United boss might need guided the Hammers to a Europa League semi-final final season, Moyes will discover actual stress on his shoulders as a result of his destructive strategy.
Match Report:
Manchester United: De Gea, Dalot, Maguire, Martinez, Shaw, Casemiro, Eriksen, Elanga, Fernandes, Rashford, Ronaldo
Subs: Fred, McTominay
West Ham: Fabianski, Kehrer, Dawson, Zouma, Cresswell, Soucek, Rice, Benrahma, Downes, Bowen, Scamacca
Subs: Areola, Antonio, Fornals
Goals: Rashford (38′)
Yellow Cards: Manchester United: Fernandes – West HamL Kehrer, Soucek, Scamacca
Red Cards: N/A
Referee: Chris Kavanagh
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