West Ham finish momentous week by comprehensively beating Man Utd

West Ham 3-1 Manchester United

West Ham United completed an excellent week with this comprehensive defeat of Manchester United.

The determination of the home side was typified by Pablo Zabaleta, who in the fifth minute stretched to keep the ball in, got down the line to take the return pass and cross for Felipe Anderson to finish with an audacious back heel.

The home side continued to press, with the visitors only managing a couple of first half headers from Romelu Lukaku - one shaving the post.

Then with half time approaching Andriy Yarmalenko worked a space on the edge of the area, and saw his shot deflected into the net by Victor Lindelof.

United had more of the possession after half time but struggled to find a way through the combatative West Ham midfield..

On the one occasion they did get through, Marouane Fellaini's strong downward header was saved by Lukasz Fabianski at the foot of the post.

The visitors got one goal back when substitute Marcus Rashford turned in a corner.

But hopes of a United revival were short lived, as a few moments later man of the match Mark Noble fed a perfectly weighted through ball for Marko Arnautovic to run on and drive under the advancing David de Gea.

West Ham manager Manuel Pellegrini praised the way his team defended. "We had good possession of the ball and moved it well," said Pellegrini, who was pleased that sticking to his attacking principles is now paying dividends.

A disappointed Jose Mourinho admiitted his team is not good in transition or at stopping the counter attack. This despite playing three central defenders.

*published in Morning Star - 30/9/2018