MY ACCOUNT
Marcus Rashford hit a last-gasp winner as Manchester United jumped ahead of West Ham in the race for the Champions League with a 1-0 Old Trafford success.
A drab game looked destined to end in goalless stalemate until Edinson Cavani’s low cross from the left was turned in from close range by fellow substitute Rashford in the third minute of stoppage time.
Cavani appeared to be possibly offside when he collected a pass from Anthony Martial, but a VAR review allowed the goal to stand, leaving the Hammers devastated.
The result means West Ham manager David Moyes has now not won an away league match against his former club in 15 attempts (L11 D4).
Cristiano Ronaldo saw his unsubtle blast from an early free-kick go straight into the West Ham wall, and it looked like being that kind of day.
The 36-year-old Ronaldo failed to put his head on a dangerous cross from the left whipped over by Fernandes, before Diogo Dalot nodded a half-chance well wide, but the action was centred in midfield, with neither David de Gea nor Alphonse Areola having a shot to save before the break.
Ronaldo wanted a penalty when he went to ground under Kurt Zouma’s challenge, expressing frustration as referee Jon Moss rejected the appeal.
West Ham had only won twice in 25 previous Premier League visits to Old Trafford (L20 D3), and they were looking for chances on the break as the hosts dominated possession.
Areola made the game’s first save after 49 minutes when he pushed away a powerful 15-yard strike from Fred, before Bowen shot into the side-netting at the other end.
Raphael Varane headed narrowly over from a corner, and United replaced Anthony Elanga with Rashford just after the hour, Cavani joining the action later.
A game of healthy promise seemed to be fizzling out into nothingness, until the armada arrived. Ronaldo fed Martial who played in Cavani, and Rashford at the far post simply could not miss.
What does it mean? Subs come to United’s rescue
Martial’s future is unclear as the transfer window remains open, but Ralf Rangnick threw him on and he played a part in the winner.
It might yet be Martial’s last telling contribution in a United shirt, and while Cavani then ran dangerously close to being offside, the Uruguayan was given the nod and an important goal stood.
United go fourth then, but Arsenal and Tottenham are in pursuit, and dreary performances like this will need to be bettered during the run-in.
Try, try and try again, but it’s not happening for Ron
Ronaldo has still only scored one direct free-kick goal at club level since netting for Real Madrid against Gremio in the December 2017 Club World Cup final.
He has tried and failed seven times for United this season, which begs the question of why he continues to be handed the responsibility. Which in turns begs the next question: who should tell him to stop?
Another Hammer blow at Old Trafford
There was the rare sight of West Ham winning at United earlier this season, albeit that 1-0 success came in the EFL Cup.
In the league, the Hammers have not had a look-in for a long time. United are now unbeaten in their last 14 against them at Old Trafford in the Premier League, since a 1-0 loss in May 2007.
West Ham have now conceded seven goals to opposition substitutes in the Premier League this season, more than any other team. Saturday’s hosts have scored eight from substitutes, also a league-high, so perhaps the climax to this game was inevitable.
Key Opta Facts
– Manchester United have won 21 of their 26 Premier League home games against West Ham (D3 L2) and are unbeaten in their last 14 against them at Old Trafford since a 1-0 loss in May 2007.
– West Ham manager David Moyes has never won an away Premier League match against the Red Devils in 15 attempts (D4 L11), with only Harry Redknapp managing as many away games at Old Trafford without winning in the Premier League era (15 games).
– West Ham have lost four of their last seven away games in the Premier League (W2 D1), one more than they’d lost in their previous 17 on the road in the competition (W10 D4 L3).
– Man United have only lost once in their last 10 Premier League games (W6 D3), and have kept their first clean sheet in the competition in six matches.
What’s next?
Both teams have a break before their next games, with Manchester United facing Middlesbrough in the FA Cup on February 4 and West Ham away at Kidderminster Harriers in the same competition the next day.
