West Ham 2 Man Utd 0
David Moyes met his old employer as they welcomed Man Utd to the London Stadium. They were looking to bounce back from their heavy defeat at Liverpool in the Carabao Cup. The Red Devils were hoping to recover from the departure of Alex Ferguson still.
In the early stages of the game the stadium was silent. It was like London’s biggest library to ever host an Olympic Games. Antony then slotted Garnacho through on goal with only the keeper to beat but Areola saved with his feet to deny them.
Man Utd were playing some good football and Antony played a dangerous ball across the six yard box but there was no one there to knock it in. This is part of the problem why Hojlund is still looking for his first goal, he does not get himself into the areas to take those chances.
Granted, the Danish striker is only 20-years-old but you wonder why Erik ten Hag sanctioned a £64m deal on a player who had only scored nine goals in his previous season for Atalanta. This is why the club are in the position they are, some very questionable decisions are being made.
Credit: @ManUtd
Early in the second half, West Ham seemed to come to life and start putting some pressure on the visitors’ defence. Emerson did well down the left and forced a corner. As the ball was swung in Bowen met it with his head, only to see Onana tip it over the crossbar.
Every time Man Utd attacked and managed to get a ball into the box it was always Garnacho offering himself up for delivery. This is exactly where Hojlund should be, hungry and wanting to pick up any loose scraps in the box.
The Hammers then struck the fatal blow as Bowen and Paqueta played a one-two, for the attacker to run through on goal. Onana saved the first effort but Bowen bundled the ball over the line after the keeper only got a weak hand to the ball.
Things then went from bad to worse for Erik ten Hag’s side as Mainoo gave the ball away and Paqueta was involved again as he played it into the path of Kudus. He weaved his way into the box before slotting it into the bottom corner.
West Ham had scored two goals in six minutes to put the visitors to the sword. After playing well for the majority of the game, their lack of firepower up top cost Man Utd dearly as they hit the self-destruct button once again.
David Moyes’ side took all three points to make it their best points total at this stage in the Premier League as The Hammers moved to sixth in the table. In the post-match interviews, Erik ten Hag seemed like the most deluded man in Europe as he kept finding positives to their dire situation.
Credit: @WestHam
Did you enjoy this article? Please share to your social media. With one click you can help spread the word and make Solid at the Back the one-stop shop for all Premier League fans.