PAUL POGBA ENDED an eight-game goal drought by scoring two penalties to give a below-par Manchester United a fortunate 2-1 victory over West Ham on Saturday.
Pogba opened the scoring on 19 minutes after Robert Snodgrass was ruled to have fouled Juan Mata just inside the area, but United struggled to build on that lead.
Felipe Anderson, who had earlier seen a goal ruled out for offside, equalised early in the second half for West Ham.
Substitute Michail Antonio twice went close to giving Manuel Pellegrini’s side their first away win of 2019, hitting the bar from 20 yards and then seeing a downward header saved brilliantly on the upward bounce by David de Gea.
Yet it was Pogba who proved the match winner, driving in from the spot with 10 minutes left after Anthony Martial, clear through on goal, was brought down by Ryan Fredericks.
Victory was much needed for manager Ole Gunnar Solskjaer after a run of four defeats in five matches, especially after he decided to rest Scott McTominay and Marcus Rashford for Tuesday’s Champions League quarter-final, second leg at Barcelona.
A vital three points lift Solskjaer’s men up to fifth and within two points of Chelsea, who travel to title-chasing Liverpool on Sunday.
Pogba on the spot
Pogba has been going through a dip in form of late, and did little to endear himself to United fans last month by publicly flirting with a summer move to Real Madrid.
There were signs at first that this might be another day of frustration for the French World Cup winner. In the opening minutes he could be seen grumbling at his team-mates for playing the ball long and then he cast his gloves to the turf after losing a battle for possession.
He did, however, end his wait for a goal from the spot, with what was the first-half’s only shot on target.
The home side could have been behind before then as Anderson swept in former United striker Javier Hernandez’s knockdown but was ruled offside. Television replays, though, suggested the Brazilian was played on by the trailing foot of Diogo Dalot.
But after going behind to Pogba’s penalty, West Ham enjoyed an extended spell of pressure, going close when Snodgrass’ corner was flicked across goal by Anderson and Manuel Lanzini was just unable to force his way between Marcos Rojo and Phil Jones to get a touch at the far post.
A quiet Old Trafford mumbled nervously, with good reason, as the impressive Anderson equalised four minutes into the second half from a Lanzini cross.
United had been their own worst enemies in the build-up; a slack De Gea throw out saw Pogba lose possession, with Snodgrass taking advantage to give Lanzini the space to deliver the ball in.
Solskjaer’s response was to throw on Rashford, who immediately tested Lukasz Fabianski with a cross-shot on the run that was well saved, then headed over from close range after West Ham had failed to clear a corner.
Most of the chances were coming at the other end as Antonio crashed the crossbar and then looked on in disbelief as De Gea somehow clawed his header to safety as it bounced towards the top corner.
Instead, Pogba’s poise from the spot won the day after Martial was chopped down by Fredericks as he raced clear on goal from Rashford’s flick.
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Just abysmal. Some of the players look like they know theyre done.
Oles face in the interview said it all. He wasnt pleased.
@Gavin Mitchell: it’s bullshit Anderson was the deserving man of the match should of had two goals from play not penalty’s that’s a true player
@Ings on Fire: agree anderson or rice for me motm.
@Derek Trotter: thanks Derek it’s sad to see some deluded United fans who think pogba is a leader for slotting two pens
@Ings on Fire: pogba was alright today tbf hes no leader but in todays game not many tony adams john terry stevie g or roy keanes about.
@Derek Trotter: u hit the nail on the head there Derek
@Gavin Mitchell: hi Gav,,, so how was the midfield today???? After the win!!! Was it abysmal???
@Devilsavocado: Should probably bring you up to speed. Im not communicating with you ever again.
Have a nice life.
@Ings on Fire: at least he didn’t slip on his arse
@The Upside-down Triangle: at least liverpool don’t play for top 4 like United
@Ings on Fire: ya they love playing second place!!!
@Gavin Mitchell: don’t be like that!!!! Who else is going to play devils advocate to you???!
@The Upside-down Triangle: can u check the premier league table and tell me who is top o wait what’s the answer
@Ings on Fire: irrelvant unless your top after 38 games. Please do every United fan a favour and not comment any of our articles. I’ll support my club and you can support yours. Thank you.
@The Upside-down Triangle: no bother
@Devilsavocado: You were no devils advocate in my eyes.
You were just a slimy iconoclastic nerf herding dingleberry sasquatch who really angered me with your pathetic attempts to humiliate my belief the Utd midfield did what they were supposed to do at an efficient level.
And dont try and play the whole Dr. Wisdom act, because I aint buying it.
Move along.
@Gavin Mitchell: so,, you don’t like being called out on your opinions of the game that “you” think you have a genius level IQ of,, I’ve seen some of your comments to other people over the season that dare to have a different opinion to yours and witnessed the disdain you show anybody (myself included) that what Gav says is gospel and nobody else is allowed to call you or disagree on anything you say because you know it all,, your opinions are constantly contradicting each other (like the other night) but hey Gav,,, you know it all and other people’s views are always wrong,, you are the worst type of football fan because your love for the club is blinding,,, you really should stick to the rugby pal…..;)
Utd woeful again sheer luck and dodgy decisions there best players, Ole Rubin his hands with that contract right now, will b gone before end of next season, if Jose had half his luck he’d still b there
@Dougal67: jose was a negative influence on utd . That squad of players aint good enough to win top prizes hence needs a positive manager. Give ole a chance, i take it ya dont follow utd so? Ole needs a few transfer markets. Take klopp for example hes 3/4 years into his project hasnt won anything but is very close.
@Derek Trotter: “ain’t good enough” to b outplayed west ham watford and the rest at home??? R u serious? Billion pound squad can’t play decent football and dominate games, you’d swear he took over Cardiff!!! He’ll b gone next season, Jose was a bad influence no doubt but Ole has the luck of the gods on his side it won’t last forever
@Dougal67: aw man, you wrote the same comment on the live blog, talk about desperation and clicks from anyone but united fans, write singing original about the game besides writing the same dribble on all United articles.
@Dougal67: your correct they where out played in them games but theres been games which they ve outplayed teams. Can ole not get a transfer window or two ? Yet again ill use klopp as the example, look at the players hes added in his time. Do other managers not deserve the same time ? Or at utd do you have to simply win every game and dominate ?
@Dougal67: by a billion pound squad im guessing you rate the players but not the managers ( ole/jose) ? I personally would suggest players aint good enough and utds board should except money has been badly spent
@Derek Trotter: Agreed Don’t rate players and signings have been horrendous 90m for show pony being the biggest disaster, just think he’s gettin a lot of credit for not v much, and klopp never took over a billion pound squad! Like I said he didn’t take over Cardiff? I could manage that squad to win a few games, without the games he’s won with being outplayed ie 4 /5 of his last prem wins and gettin thru v PSG would he have a contract??
@Alan Brazil: Good u can read well done you..
I had this conversation on here regarding Jose and he’ll flop and be gone before year out and was hammered down again by theredtinted brigade, right then will b again regarding Ole?
@Dougal67: no if he lost the games hes won he wouldnt of got the contract ??? Lost there ! Klopp has spent well is my point maybe ole will to. You keep mentioning cardiff ? Check out fergusons managerial cv, you might be surprised.
@Dougal67: more dribble
@Dougal67: and some team threatening to win a league this way!
Good win, really needed the 3 points. Pogba took the penalties well, stepped up like a true leader. On to Tuesday we go.
@The Upside-down Triangle: pogba is the opposite of a true leader, in his head he’s bigger than the club.
@The Upside-down Triangle: pogba slotted two penalty’s.anderson got a goal wrongly disallowed west ham were all over them worrying for United
@Ings on Fire: He got the Man of the Match #factsdontlie
@The Upside-down Triangle: for hitting two penalty’s most top level players can do that his not a leader if anything his thinks his better than the club
@Ings on Fire: now say that without crying
@Paul Pogba: you did well to stick the two penos Paulie, fair play!
@The Upside-down Triangle: You can comment when we beat Chelsea tomorrow if u want everyone has the right to an opinion. Thank you
@Ings on Fire: “when we beat Chelsea”.. you’ll be under a rock tomorrow, not giving constructive comments on this, not that you do either way
@Ings on Fire: I read the following article on United, I stand corrected, I put you down as another liverpool hack on United articles. “When we beat Chelsea” looking forward to it
@Ich bin brendan: thanks for the apology
God almighty United were poor. Completely god out if jail with that win. Some tough games ahead. Really need to find some form to get top 4
Referees f*cked us again , so much favoritism towards the top 6. Should have won.
@Bob Joe: should have won in play 100 percent. Rice and anderson top drawer today. They were pennos tbf ..
@Bob Joe: West ham denied a goal as well.. Wasn’t offside. Var can’t come quick enough
@Bob Joe: I whole heartedly agree.
@Chonky Racoon: var got it wrong for utd v psg. Lfc v porto ?? Two var decisions wrong there. Spurs v city roses penno ? Barce v utd was correct. Not so sure var is the answer
@Derek Trotter: united PSG was the correct decision going by the new handball laws. Raise your hands and it’s a penalty. Simple as that
@Anthony: i agree by the law its a penno but if you have played the game even at pub level you know its not a penno. Hence all ex pros dis agreeing with the decision.
@Chonky Racoon: And yet if VAR was in this season Liverpool would be mid table ! Gas isn’t it when you think about it
@David Weston: Is that taking into account the VAR decisions from all premier league games up to now?
He should have got a red card but because its utd he got away it.
@irishred: Dry your eyes mate ……