West Ham inflict eighth Premier League loss of the season on dour Manchester United

Second half goals from Jarrod Bowen and Mohammed Kudus see the Hammers climb above United in the table.

Sat, 23 Dec, 2023 - 14:31

Chris Hatherall, London Stadium

West Ham 2 (Bowen 72, Kudus 79) Manchester United 0

Manchester United are out of the top six and into further trouble after limping to a 2-0 defeat at West Ham in which Jarrod Bowen and Mohammed Kudus showed them how to score goals.

Bowen, converted from winger to striker by David Moyes, hit the first in 72nd minute, turning home a fine through-ball from Lucas Pacqueta – that’s his 11th Premier League goal already this season.

Then Kudus, an impressive summer signing, raced through to finish superbly past Andre Onana seven minutes later – to leave lacklustre Manchester United facing another crisis following only one win in seven games in all competitions.

How United could do with players like those Hammers heroes - because once again they looked toothless – and with manager Erik Ten Hag under increasing pressure it could be an uncomfortable Christmas with Aston Villa next up at Old Trafford on St Stephen’s Day.

This result came on the back of a goalless draw at Anfield last weekend, which appeared to have at least stopped the rot in what has been a frustrating season.

But 24 hours after their deadly rivals Manchester City won the Club World Cup – their fifth trophy in the calendar year – United’s lack of identity and lack of attacking spark came back to haunt them.

After a turgid and listless first half they were blown away by the Hammers in the second period and not even the arrival of Marcus Rashford for the anonymous Rasmus Hojlund could spark them into life.

United had won plaudits in some circles for their draw at Anfield, producing a highly focused and organised defensive display.

But keeping that focus without a cutting edge of your own isn’t easy. That’s what Virgil van Dijk meant when he said that ‘only one team tried to win’ last weekend.

United had captain Bruno Fernandes back from suspension for this one but when Raphael Varane pulled out ill they had to field debutant Willy Kambwala, 19, in his place, with 18-year-old Kobbie Mainoo in midfield.

In fairness, the teenagers – and especially Kambwala – were two of United’s better players, it was the others who let them down in a listless performance.

The Hammers created the game’s first big chance, a fizzing effort from the left foot of Emerson, well parried by Onana, and United took half an hour to deliver a shot on target.

The half was rather summed up when Garnacho, United’s most dangerous man, suddenly found himself through on goal after West Ham gave away possession but turned the chance into a Mr Bean sketch by comically falling over the ball before he could shoot.

But United did come close with another Garnacho effort, deflected over the bar, and from a miss-hit Mainoo shot that Areola almost fluffed into his own net.

At half time, one online wit suggested that if this match was Christmas present you’d ask for the receipt. But it did improve – for West Ham, at least.

Bowen forced Onana to tip his header from a corner over the bar and then opened the scoring from Pacqueta’s clever lofted through ball, just about scrambling the ball over the line with Onana bamboozled.

By then Rashford was on for Hojllund, who had barely touched the ball, but you wouldn’t have noticed.

Instead, it was West Ham who scored again, this time Kudus running through unchallenged to superbly beat Onana by firing into the opposite corner - taking them above United in the table.

For West Ham fans the perfect pre-Christmas gift. For United another massive setback.

West Ham: (4-2-3-1): Areola 6; Coufal 6, Zouma 7, Mavropanos 6, Emerson 6; Soucek 7, Alvarez 6; Kudus 9 (Johnson 90), Ward-Prowse 7, Paqueta 7; Bowen 8 (Fornals 87; 6).

Unused subs: Fabianski, Cresswell, Ings, Ogbonna, Benrahma, Kehrer, Mubama.

Booked: Kudos 43.

Man United (4-2-3-1): Onana 6; Wan-Bissaka 6, Kambwala 7 (Reguillon 84; 5), Evans 5, Shaw 7; McTominay 5, Mainoo 6; Garnacho 6 (Eriksen 84; 6), Fernandes 6, Antony 5; Hojlund 4 (Rashford 67; 5).

Unused Subs: Bayindir, Amrabat, Pellistri, Van de Beek, Hannibal, Bennett.

Booked: Evans 45 + 2, Fernandes 61.

Referee: Simon Hooper.