Goals from Danny Welbeck, Adnan Januzaj and Ashley Young sealed a comprehensive victory for David Moyes' side, despite Carlton Cole's late consolation for the visitors
Manchester United ended a run of back-to-back league defeats at Old Trafford by beating West Ham 3-1 on Saturday.
Goals from Danny Welbeck, Adnan Januzaj and Ashley Young sealed a convincing win for David Moyes' side, although Carlton Cole converted a late consolation for the visitors.
Successive home defeats to Everton and Newcastle United ramped up the pressure on manager Moyes earlier this month but there was no repeat on this occasion as United coasted to their fourth win in a row in all competitions.
Welbeck gave the Premier League champions the lead in the 26th minute with his first league goal at Old Trafford in more than 14 months.
And the England forward turned provider 10 minutes later, setting up teenager Januzaj, who took his first home goal for the club with aplomb.
| VIEW FROM OLD TRAFFORD |
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| By Gary Maiden A comfortable victory for United, who stopped the Old Trafford rot following two successive home defeats in the league. Goals from Danny Welbeck, Adnan and Ashley Young sealed the three points to send the champions eight points off top spot. A forgiving festive fixture list could yet see United claw themselves back into the title race. For West Ham, their season will not depend on results at places like Old Trafford but Allardyce will be concerned by how easy his side made it for the hosts. The Hammers now sit just a point outside the relegation zone. |
However, Cole beat the offside trap to race clear and slot through the legs of David De Gea eight minutes from time to pull one back for the visitors, though it was too little, too late for the visitors.
The result was slightly soured for United as Welbeck limped off with what looked to be a muscle injury early in the second half.
United climbed to seventh in the table with their success, while West Ham – who looked sluggish after their 2-1 Capital One Cup quarter-final win at Tottenham on Wednesday – remain 17th.
Wayne Rooney returned from a minor groin problem for United to partner Welbeck up front but Nemanja Vidic (knock) and Marouane Fellaini (back) remained on the sidelines.
Spanish goalkeeper Adrian retained his place for West Ham while striker Modibo Maiga was promoted after scoring the winner at White Hart Lane.
Still missing suspended captain Kevin Nolan, the Hammers struggled to get a foothold in the game and only an excellent Adrian save denied Tom Cleverley from close range in the second minute.
Rooney then curled a free kick over the bar and Antonio Valencia forced a decent stop from Adrian, before United's pressure told.
A lovely flick from Welbeck released Rooney in space and he returned the pass, as the former burst into the penalty box to fire past Adrian from a tight angle.
The goalkeeper's positioning could have been questioned by manager Sam Allardyce but the keeper was not the only one left with egg on their face after Januzaj strolled through West Ham's defence to double United's lead nine minutes before the break.
The United starlet and Welbeck linked up before the 18-year-old sold James Collins a dummy, slid past him and curled in his first ever goal at Old Trafford.
Valencia blasted over just before half-time and four minutes after the break, Jonny Evans' towering header had to be turned wide by Mark Noble.
Collins went close with a header at the other end but United were still dominant – Javier Hernandez only denied by the offside flag after scoring in the 68th minute.
But Young finally sealed the result shortly after, capping a routine win for United by curling Rooney's pass into the top-right corner.
That meant Cole's late goal had little significance as United posted a comfortable victory.
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