Report as West Ham moved above Man Utd with a 2-0 victory at the London Stadium; two goals in six second-half minutes from Jarrod Bowen and Mohammed Kudus secured the win; Hammers up to sixth, while United drop to eighth; United have now failed to score in four successive matches
Saturday 23 December 2023 15:57, UK
West Ham scored two goals in six second-half minutes as they secured a 2-0 victory over Manchester United and moved above Erik ten Hag's side in the Premier League table.
In a game that struggled for attacking quality, Lucas Paqueta's sublime pass unlocked the United defence and found Jarrod Bowen, who broke the deadlock with his 11th league goal of the season in the 72nd minute.
A second quickly followed six minutes later as Mohammed Kudus pounced on an error from Kobbie Mainoo to wrap up all three points for the Hammers as they moved up to sixth and firmly into the hunt for the European places.
Meanwhile, it was another chastening afternoon for United, who dominated possession at the London Stadium but failed to score for a fourth successive match in all competitions. In fact, United have now played 380 minutes of football since they scored their last goal.
Ten Hag's side have now suffered eight league defeats so far this season and sit eighth in the table, six points behind fourth and 11 points behind leaders Arsenal.
After the game, the United boss admitted his side are underperforming but called on his squad to stick together.
Ten Hag said: "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."
When asked whether it's difficult to stay positive after yet another league defeat this season, United defender Luke Shaw added: "Yeah, it is, but it's our job. We have to stay positive. This is Manchester United, one of the biggest clubs in the world, and like I said before it's not good enough. We know that and we have to dig deep, look ourselves in the mirror and question ourselves and go from there."
The big news ahead of kick-off was Manchester United's inclusion of Willy Kambwala for his first senior appearance for the club with Raphael Varane missing the game through illness. All eyes were on the 19-year-old in the opening stages, and he got a good early touch, easing any nerves that may have been there by confidently carrying the ball out of defence.
In some ways it set the tone for the opening stages as United dominated possession without ever really threatening the West Ham goal.
Andre Onana had to be alert as early as the fifth minute to keep out Emerson's powerful low drive but neither side really threatened a goal until Mohammed Kudus' loose pass picked out Antony. The winger played Alejandro Garnacho in behind, but the Argentine never looked convincing as goalkeeper Alphonse Areola's block kept the scores level.
From that moment on the game finally came to life. Jonny Evans' crucial interception denied Kudus a tap in before Areola kept out Mainoo's shot from the edge of the penalty area. In an end-to-end finish to the half Antony's teasing cross evaded Rasmus Hojlund and Garnacho before Tomas Soucek headed James Ward-Prowse's cross wide.
The first-half stalemate meant United had gone seven halves of football without a goal.
Into the second half and West Ham tested Onana again as the United goalkeeper tipped Bowen's header over the crossbar.
In a similar vein to the first half, United were enjoying plenty of the ball and were probing around the West Ham penalty area, but a lack of cutting edge in the final third hampered the visitors.
In the end it cost them as Paqueta's sensational pass with the outside of his boot unlocked the United defence. The Brazil international picked out the run of Bowen, who had a touch of fortune as he bundled the ball home via a ricochet off Onana.
The game was wrapped up six minutes later as West Ham pounced on Mainoo's error. Paqueta slid the ball through for Kudus, who provided a fine finish as United's difficult season continued.
Analysis from Sky Sports' Zinny Boswell at the London Stadium:
"More than 380 minutes have passed without Manchester United scoring a goal. Of the myriad of problems facing Erik ten Hag this is the most worrying.
"Fans can accept defeat in a difficult moment; United fans have had to do it in every other game this season. A lack of excitement and goals will sour the mood though.
"United were far from clinical last season, relying heavily on the individual brilliance of Marcus Rashford and his 30 goals, but they were functional. His alarming drop-off reveals the dearth of attacking quality in Ten Hag's side.
"Rasmus Hojlund, a £72m transfer, was brought in as the solution yet has failed to score in 14 Premier League games. Antony, an £86m transfer, has not got a goal all season. Alejandro Garnacho, 19, is promising but often looks lightweight.
"Looking around it is tough to see where the goals are coming from.
"Ten Hag was clear after defeat to West Ham. 'Football is about scoring goals and winning games.' United can't seem to do either at the minute."
West Ham goalscorer Jarrod Bowen:
"It was never going to be a walk in the park. Manchester United are a really top side in this league. Second half we kept at it, kept plugging away, and got the goal. Then more importantly we got the second goal quite soon after and then made it more comfortable for us going into the last 10 minutes.
"We want to forget that [Liverpool defeat] as soon as possible. We have to face up to it, we went out there and put out a poor performance. We knew going into Christmas what it would do for us in the league going into the next two really big games as well. We knew we wanted to win this game, we've won this game, and it's pushed us back up the table again.
"I think it's hard to say [whether West Ham are a top-six side]. We want to be, but I think you look at the top 10 and it's probably the most open it's ever been with teams coming in. Aston Villa, even they're in the top four, Brighton and Chelsea are top sides. All we can do is win our games, but we want to be in that top six minimum, for sure."
West Ham face a London derby against title-chasing Arsenal at the Emirates Stadium on Thursday; kick-off 8.15pm. The Hammers' first fixture of 2024 sees them host Brighton on January 2, live on Sky Sports; kick-off 7.30pm.
Manchester United are next in action on Boxing Day as they welcome title contenders Aston Villa to Old Trafford; kick-off 8pm. Erik ten Hag's side then go to Nottingham Forest for their final game of 2023 on December 30, which is live on Sky Sports; kick-off 5.30pm.
