West Ham secure survival against toothless United

West Ham secured their premier league status for the 2019-2020 season with a professional 1-1 draw against an out of sorts Manchester United.

Build-up

After Aston Villa’s win over Arsenal last night, West Ham still needed a result to mathematically confirm their spot in the Premier League next season. Manchester United, on the other hand, are still chasing Champions League football and needed a win to push them into the top four.

David Moyes named an unchanged starting eleven from the side that beat Watford 3-1 at the London Stadium on Friday evening. Ole Gunnar Solskjær, however, made four changes from the United side that was knocked out of the FA Cup by Chelsea on Sunday.

Anthony Martial, Paul Pogba and Mason Greenwood all returned to the attack, one other change was Timothy Fosu-Mensah replaced Aaron Wan-Bissaka at right-back.

Match Report

The first notable chances fell to Manchester United within three minutes of Kick-off. Anthony Martial was played though, but his shot was well palmed away by Lukasz Fabianski. Mason Greenwood also had an effort saved by the Polish goalkeeper.

United continued to dominate proceedings, but West Ham was able to keep them at arms bay in solid defensive performance. The Red Devils were close to taking the lead in the 38th minute, but Greenwood was denied by a great block from Angelo Ogbonna.

West Ham almost got their noses in front just before half-time. The young Ben Johnson played a high dipping cross to the back post where Michail Antonio was able to get the better of Victor Lindelof. The 30-year-old’s effort was straight at David De Gea and easily saved.

The Hammers were given a brilliant opportunity to take the lead. Declan Rice smashed a free-kick into Paul Pogba, the Frenchman acted as though it had hit him in the face but upon VAR review a penalty for a clear handball was given. The man on form, Michail Antonio, took responsibility and sent De Gea a wrong way to give the Hammers the lead.

The lead didn’t last long after the restart. Paul Pogba played a good pass to Martial and after some brilliant interplay, Greenwood blasted his shot passed Fabianski to mark his 50th United appearance with a goal.

David Moyes would have been happy after that first-half performance, very solid and professional from his West Ham side. The goal from Antonio was the perfect cherry on top. Ole Gunnar Solskjær however, would be very disappointed with his side, even more so in Pogba’s inability to take on for the team.

Rice went close to restoring the lead immediately. Jarrod Bowen did well down the right flank beating Brandon Williams and his deflected shot fell to the Englishman, but his shot was fired over De Gea’s goal.

West Ham continued to prob the United goal. Tomas Soucek picked up a loose ball in the United half. The ball was eventually played out to Bowen, the wingers shot was brilliantly kept out by De Gea to keep the scores level.

The game started to open up with both teams searching for the goal that would put them in the lead. Neither side was able to find that killer pass to create a clear-cut opportunity.

West Ham was the side looking the most likely to get the next goal. Rice went close again from distance. The midfielder’s twenty-five-yard effort fizzed passed De Gea’s left-hand post and would definitely have bettered his strike against Watford, had gone in.

The Hammers did suffer a setback. Ever-present Aaron Cresswell hobbled off the field with a suspected calf injury. The Englishman made way for Arthur Masuaku to take control on the left side of the defence. Michail Antonio was also replaced after another good outing by record signing Sebastien Haller.

Once four minutes of added time was announced the game started to peter out as both sides seemed to settle for a draw. The point sees United climb into third position in the League on goal difference. But the big result was for the Hammers, they secured the spot in the Premier League for next season.

Man of the Match: Michail Antonio

The man in the form of his life. Antonio has returned from lockdown a new man and earned himself another man of the match award. The forward took his penalty very cooly to take his goal tally to ten for the season in the Premier League.