MANCHESTER UNITED BATTLED to a 1-0 win over West Ham on Sunday to move back into second place in the Premier League.
A second-half own goal from Craig Dawson proved to be the difference as Old Trafford as David Moyes suffered a third defeat in three meetings with his old club this season.
They were three hard-won points for the Red Devils, who now have a more comfortable cushion to the Hammers in fifth, as they completed a league double over West Ham for the first time since Moyes’ days in charge in 2013-14.
Marcus Rashford, a surprising starter after recovering from an ankle problem, should have scored 25 minutes in but failed to make clean contact with a header from Mason Greenwood’s cross.
It was 37 minutes in until the first effort on target, Greenwood curling a strike towards the bottom-left corner that was expertly tipped away by Lukasz Fabianski, with the Hammers becoming the first team since Swansea City in March 2018 to fail to attempt a shot in the first half of a league game against the Red Devils.
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The breakthrough came eight minutes into the second half, the ball flying past Fabianski off the head of Dawson after Scott McTominay had flicked on Bruno Fernandes’ corner.
Fabianski made another fine one-handed stop to keep out a Fernandes strike from the edge of the box, and Greenwood blasted a shot off the base of the post after a fast break when the goalkeeper was beaten.
Ole Gunnar Solskjaer’s men conceded a 92nd-minute equaliser to Milan in their last game, but this time they held firm in the closing stages.
The win moved United back above Leicester City, who had earlier thrashed Sheffield United 5-0, and also means they are nine points clear of West Ham.
With nine games to go, the 14-point gap to leaders Manchester City appears too great, but Solskjaer’s men are in a good position for what is proving a fiercely contested battle for the top four.
This was the fifth time in the past six games in all competitions that United failed to score in the first half, the exception being that early Fernandes penalty in the derby win at City.
Breaking down defences is something of a recurring problem for Solskjaer and it could be a concern when they head to Milan on Thursday needing to score a goal to prevent a European exit.
United’s final two games before the international break are that Europa League trip to Milan on Thursday and an FA Cup quarter-final at Leicester City next Sunday.
West Ham have a week to prepare for the league visit of Arsenal.
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Dawson own goal the difference as Man United move back into second
MANCHESTER UNITED BATTLED to a 1-0 win over West Ham on Sunday to move back into second place in the Premier League.
A second-half own goal from Craig Dawson proved to be the difference as Old Trafford as David Moyes suffered a third defeat in three meetings with his old club this season.
They were three hard-won points for the Red Devils, who now have a more comfortable cushion to the Hammers in fifth, as they completed a league double over West Ham for the first time since Moyes’ days in charge in 2013-14.
Marcus Rashford, a surprising starter after recovering from an ankle problem, should have scored 25 minutes in but failed to make clean contact with a header from Mason Greenwood’s cross.
It was 37 minutes in until the first effort on target, Greenwood curling a strike towards the bottom-left corner that was expertly tipped away by Lukasz Fabianski, with the Hammers becoming the first team since Swansea City in March 2018 to fail to attempt a shot in the first half of a league game against the Red Devils.
The breakthrough came eight minutes into the second half, the ball flying past Fabianski off the head of Dawson after Scott McTominay had flicked on Bruno Fernandes’ corner.
Fabianski made another fine one-handed stop to keep out a Fernandes strike from the edge of the box, and Greenwood blasted a shot off the base of the post after a fast break when the goalkeeper was beaten.
Ole Gunnar Solskjaer’s men conceded a 92nd-minute equaliser to Milan in their last game, but this time they held firm in the closing stages.
The win moved United back above Leicester City, who had earlier thrashed Sheffield United 5-0, and also means they are nine points clear of West Ham.
With nine games to go, the 14-point gap to leaders Manchester City appears too great, but Solskjaer’s men are in a good position for what is proving a fiercely contested battle for the top four.
This was the fifth time in the past six games in all competitions that United failed to score in the first half, the exception being that early Fernandes penalty in the derby win at City.
Breaking down defences is something of a recurring problem for Solskjaer and it could be a concern when they head to Milan on Thursday needing to score a goal to prevent a European exit.
United’s final two games before the international break are that Europa League trip to Milan on Thursday and an FA Cup quarter-final at Leicester City next Sunday.
West Ham have a week to prepare for the league visit of Arsenal.
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Football Premier League Red DEvils Manchester United West Ham United