Van’s early strike keeps United top

Man United 1 West Ham 0

This was a far from vintage United performance, particularly in light of the dream start handed them by their Dutch forward, but at least Alex Ferguson could take comfort in the fact that, having gone behind in nine of their opening 13 league games, here, they bucked the trend.

And what a way in which to do it. Van Persie collected an accurate through ball from Michael Carrick, turning Winston Reid with a deft flick and scoring, via an unkind deflection off defender James Collins. Van Persie and United may have enjoyed a large slice of good fortune with the finish but it was no more than the forward deserved for the execution of the build-up.

It was van Persie’s ninth league goal in a dozen starts to date, his 12th in all competitions, and an indication of just how vital he is to his team’s title aspirations. However fragile United’s defence — and it has looked ludicrously so on occasion — the goal production of van Persie alone will cover up a large number of those flaws.

Last night, however, the impressively quick start did not lead to the deluge that might have been predicted.

Javier Hernandez came closest to extending the lead in the first half with a run and shot into the side-netting and a crisp strike from the edge of the area which Jussi Jaaskelainen turned around at the expense of a corner.

But there were equally good, possibly better, openings for the visitors. Kevin Nolan turned an audacious back heel just wide from a Matt Taylor free-kick, Collins almost steered a long shot from Taylor past Anders Lindegaard and the hapless Andy Carroll mis-cued from seven yards.

They were misses which appeared likely to be costly as United opened the second half with wave after wave of pressure.

Van Persie guided a Rooney header into the path of Tom Cleverley whose fearsome strike sailed narrowly over the West Ham crossbar and there were threatening long-distance attempts from Rooney, van Persie, at a 20-yard free-kick, and Michael Carrick.

Just before the hour, Rooney, becoming increasingly influential in his by-now customary, deeper role, unleashed a superb strike from the edge of the area which Jaaskelainen turned around his post and, from the resulting corner, only desperate, bodies on the line, defending from the Hammers managed to clear a near-post scramble which had almost seen Carrick and van Persie force the ball over the line.

A Rafael cross was met by Hernandez with a reflex flick of the boot that sent the ball inches wide and Ferguson, clearly anxious about the precarious state of the game, brought on Ashley Young in the hope of adding attacking momentum to his side.

The tactic had the desired effect, Young offering far more in the final third than the man he replaced, Cleverley. But still, this was not a vintage display of finishing from United.

Rooney leaned back at the wrong moment and placed a 69th minute shot well over while Anderson fared better from 18 yards but saw Jaaskelainen deal impressively with a viciously swerving shot.

There was the occasional warning for United — the ball just would not come down for Taylor as he attempted to line up a shot, but the traffic continued in one direction only and it required a fine block by Gary Demel to deny what surely would have been a second goal for van Persie after 75 minutes.

It was to be United’s night, however, and the point was underlined after 82 minutes when Hammers substitute Carlton Cole shot on the turn from six yards with Lindegaard making a superb stop before enjoying the sight of Modibo Maiga being flagged offside as he waited to pounce on the loose ball.

MAN UNITED (4-3-1-2): Lidegaard 7; Rafael 6, Smalling 7, Evans 7, Evra 6; Anderson 7 (Jones 83), Carrick 6, Cleverley 5 (Young 66, 7); Rooney 7 (Welbeck 77, 6); van Persie 8, Hernandez 7.

WEST HAM (4-4-1-1): Jaaskelainen 8; Demel 6, Collins 5, Reid 6, O’Brien 7; Taylor 6, Tomkins 7, Diame 7 (O’Neil 75, 6), Jarvis 7 (Maiga 69, 6); Nolan 7; Carroll 4 (Cole 62, 6).

Referee: M Jones