Manchester United brush aside West Ham to maintain top four pursuit

Manchester United claimed a comfortable 3-0 home win against West Ham United on Sunday, extending their unbeaten league record against the Hammers at Old Trafford to 16 games. Both sides started brightly in an end-to-end opening but United took the lead midway through the first half when Casemiro set up Rasmus Hojlund to finish expertly. West Ham responded well but could not find an equaliser before the break.

The Hammers made a goalkeeping change at half-time but fell further behind just four minutes after the restart when Alejandro Garnacho’s deflected shot found the net. West Ham almost pulled one back when Jarrod Bowen was played through on goal, but Diogo Dalot made a vital last-ditch tackle that was celebrated like a goal by the Old Trafford faithful.

Despite defensive uncertainties this term, United’s backline held firm in the final 30 minutes to provide the platform for victory. The result was sealed on 85 minutes when Scott McTominay released Garnacho to grab his second. It capped a comfortable win for Erik Ten Hag’s men, keeping their top four ambitions alive by closing the gap to 4th place to eight points.

The clean sheet was just United’s third in 12 home league games, proving their defensive improvements. For David Moyes’ Hammers, it extends an unhappy run at Old Trafford, without a league win since 2007.