Reaction, Highlights and Player Ratings : West Ham 1-2 Manchester United 19/9/21

/

It was an afternoon of redemption on multiple scores as Jesse Lingard scored a last minute winner – and there was still time for a blatant penalty turned down for United, and even more time for West Ham to be awarded a penalty – only to see it saved by David De Gea, the man who faced criticism by many of his own fans after the defeat against Villarreal.

Football is at its richest when there are storylines like the ones which unfolded at the London Stadium – and the travelling fans may be beginning to believe there could be many yet to unfold this season.

Manchester United have enjoyed a decent start to the season but defeat in the Champions League gave cause for Ole Gunnar Solskjaer’s biggest critics to indulge in a bit of early campaign revisionism.

That meant disregarding their place at the top of the table as they came into the weekend, looking again at the draw against Southampton, and downplaying the quality of performances in the high-scoring wins, all in the pursuit of levelling abuse at the current manager at Old Trafford.

Scores of online fans readied their anger, hoping for United to lose at West Ham today so they have further fuel to get some attention.

Such nonsense undermines what can exist as very real concerns about the manager, especially as Southampton drew at Manchester City to show the folly of sweeping conclusions made on the back of individual results.

But what that result did at the Etihad was present an opportunity for United to climb three points ahead of their neighbours, a position they often squandered when presented with similar opportunities to break clear of opponents last season, and one of the most primary issues Solskjaer needs to address in order to transform his second place finish of last season into genuine contenders this time around.

Nonetheless, Solskjaer knows he is in a position where he needs to deliver, and made a statement by selecting McTominay, Fred, and moving Pogba to the left.

It was the first time this midfield axis has played in front of Varane and Maguire so the theory was that United should have been in a more comfortable shape – and they seemed to be, in the first fifteen minutes, without causing too much trouble.

The hosts felt their way into the game and Bowen, such a threat in the game here last season, created a couple of chances – the first catching Maguire out but ending with a blocked shot, and the second forcing a save from De Gea.

United then had efforts of their own – Ronaldo had a sighter, before Fernandes hit the post via Fabianski’s fingertips, and then Shaw chanced his arm with a daisy cutter.

It was an end to end passage in the game and West Ham benefitted from their opponents being stretched on the counter – they worked out a numerical advantage on their left, and Benrahma found space for a shot – his effort hit Varane in his midriff on the edge of the area and the ball completely changed direction, catching De Gea off his feet and flying into the opposite corner.

It provoked a swift response. Ronaldo was clear in the box but took a heavy touch and Zouma got the ball away – Wan-Bissaka won a corner with a shot. As the Hammers tried to clear it, Fernandes crossed from the left and there was the predatory Ronaldo – his first shot was saved, but the ball spilled generously for him to tap in the rebound.

Ronaldo then had another effort just before half-time, and within a minute Vlasic had fired over at the other end – summing up the entertainment in the first half. United, with seven shots on target, had registered a high in the league for first half efforts this season. That figure – much like the long unbeaten away record – is merely pretty window-dressing, meaning little if United were unable to push on and record an important victory.

Inside the first minute of the second period, Ronaldo had a great chance to get a second – but Fabianski was alert to deny him.

The next twenty minutes were familiar – United had a territorial dominance but were pedestrian with it, and West Ham were dangerous on the counter. They tried to increase that danger by bringing on Yarmalenko, a thorn in United’s side in the past.

Solskjaer’s response was to bring on Sancho and Lingard for Greenwood and Pogba, an attempt to bring some vibrancy to the wide areas.

Ronaldo went over in the box in the 76th minute but referee Martin Atkinson said no – it seemed a contentious decision, but Atkinson wasn’t even asked to review it on VAR. A similar incident happened ten minutes later when Ronaldo was pulled in the box, though it didn’t seem as close as the first.

United made one last change – Matic for Fred. It was immediately influential. Matic was economic where Fred had been wasteful – his incisive pass to Lingard found the former West Ham loanee in the box. He set himself and fired in a shot into the top corner. After the criticism that came his way this week, it was a remarkable moment that sent the travelling fans into a frenzy.

There was time for more drama. Ronaldo was taken out by Zouma in the box in injury time. Atkinson didn’t give it – if the other two were debatable, this was simply inexplicable. Ronaldo laughed as he was certain the decision would be overturned. Remarkably, it was not. It’s a decision which looks worse on each viewing.

The confusion turned to ire moments later. West Ham won a free-kick. From it, they tried to get a cross in. Shaw blocked the cross with his arm – he was close to it, but it was too far out from his body to have any complaints. It was just as much a penalty as the one that hadn’t been given moments earlier.

Moyes brought on West Ham legend Mark Noble specifically to take the kick. De Gea guessed right, diving to his left – United had earned the points in the most dramatic of climaxes.

For Ronaldo, Lingard, De Gea and Solskjaer, there will be a deserved feeling of self-satisfaction.

Selection

The partnership of Scott McTominay and Fred has been heavily criticised by those vocal Ole-outers but the reality is it’s the most compatible and functional pair United have in order to play in away games.

It is not a midfield that can dictate the tempo, but Solskjaer does not have a combination available to him that can do that, so in the absence of it, and on the face of the evidence so far this season, he went back to what he trusts most. Nobody can blame him, and although many might want to have seen Pogba or Van De Beek at least get a game alongside McTominay, there are safer opportunities for that chance to be given, especially as Mino Raiola’s latest bout of being garrulous has more or less suggested Paul Pogba will finally be on the move.

Pogba, though, started on the left today, with Solskjaer taking the opportunity to give Sancho a day out of the spotlight. Before, the success of such decisions could be assessed over a longer term, but now it really is a case of a performance and a result as it comes, or doesn’t.

If Pogba, in spite of how much Solskjaer likes him, is to leave, the manager is left with a difficult situation that he still might be able to use to his advantage. It could go right, it could go wrong, and Rashford and Cavani coming back to fitness will complicate matters. So, as well as Pogba had done in that position before today, if he is on his way, Solskjaer’s priority is to try and work the remaining players into a groove.

The central shape did indicate just how well United could do with a Neves in place of a Fred but it was serving its purpose. The point was maybe proven by Matic’s dramatic cameo – although it may well serve as a greater argument for giving Van De Beek a run in the side in games just like this.

Ratings

De Gea 8

Wan-Bissaka 6

Varane 7

Maguire 6

Shaw 6

McTominay 7

Fred 5

Greenwood 6

Fernandes 7

Pogba 6

Ronaldo 7

Subs

Sancho

Lingard

Matic

Wayne Barton

Wayne is a writer and producer. His numerous books on Manchester United include the family-authorised biography of Jimmy Murphy. He wrote and produced the BT Sport films 'Too Good To Go Down' in 2018, and 'True Genius', in 2021, both adapted from his books of the same name. In 2015 he was described by the Independent as the 'leading writer on Manchester United' and former club chairman Martin Edwards has described him as 'the pre-eminent writer on the club'.

Leave a Reply

Previous Story

Line-up announced : Manchester United team to face West Ham - Big Midfield Selection For Solskjaer

Next Story

Watch Live : Talking Devils Podcast with Former United Defender Paul Parker and Wayne Barton 20/9/21

Latest from Columnists

Stand By Ten Hag

Two wins, three losses, negative goal difference, and 13th in the league. That was the state