West Ham inflict more league misery on sorry Man Utd
HAMMER BLOW: West Ham's Tomas Soucek, centre, celebrates after scoring his side's opening goal at Old Trafford. Pic: AP Photo/Ian Hodgson
RUBEN Amorim presided over another Old Trafford horror show - and a ninth Manchester United home defeat of the Premier League campaign - with a European final in Bilbao next week the only saving grace from one of the worst seasons in the proud club’s history.
A 17th league defeat of the campaign, against a West Ham side without a victory in their last eight outings no less, represents the most losses United have collected in one season since they were last relegated from the top flight in 1973-74.
In the just over half-century since, United have never lost as many and the current table also leaves them well on course for their final lowest league position since that relegation; the 13th they finished in 1989-90.
The Europa League campaign - and, now, the Final - has dominated United’s season for weeks and Amorim responded with six changes from his semi-final winning line-up, an approach which led to West Ham, unsurprisingly, taking a 26th minute lead.
The goal featured a prominent role from former United full-back Aaron Wan-Bissaka, who looked very much like a man with a point to prove on his return.
It was his clever pass into the United area that allowed Mohammed Kudus to drive a cross-shot towards the far post where Tomas Soucek arrived ahead of Harry Amass, flicking the ball in via a slight deflection off the United youngster.
It was a familiar sight for United supporters who have seen their team concede first in 12 of their 18 home league games this season - only relegated Leicester, with 15, have done it more frequently.
And, fortunately for Amorim, this week’s European semi-final win over Athletic Bilbao has bought him and his team plenty of good will and breathing space when it comes to deserved criticism.
It was just as well because, aside from an early shot from Amad Diallo, a chance carved out thanks to an excellent cross-field pass from Mason Mount, which Alphone Areola parried well, there was not much cheer for the home fans.
Things could have worsened for United inside the opening 30 seconds of the second half, but James Ward-Prowse drive his shot straight at Altay Bayindir.
And, with an eye on the final in Bilbao against Spurs in ten days time, things did worsen for Amorim a few minutes later when Leny Yoro went off injured and the United manager also took off Luke Shaw with an eye on that tie.
Mount briefly offered hope, after a good probing attack from Diallo, but hit his shot straight at the keeper and it was not long before West Ham were back in the ascendancy, Bayindir clawing away a dangerous Jarrod Bowen cross, one-handed.
Just seconds later, the Hammers lead was doubled as Manuel Ugarte was caught dawdling on the ball by Wan-Bissaka in the 57th minute.
Kudus gathered the loose ball, surging forward past Harry Maguire and, after his shot was blocked, Wan-Bissaka sent the rebound across goal for Bowen to convert from six yards.
Rasmus Hojlund, who had missed with a couple of half-chances in the opening period, continued to endure a miserable afternoon, heading just wide, then appearing on the end of a United counter-attack, only to hit an attempt straight at Alphonse Areola.
Indeed, as has been the case in several recent games, Maguire looked United’s best chance of clawing back a goal, with one header that bounced just wide and another which Areola had to save well on his goalline.
It was Maguire who appeared on the end of a Bruno Fernandes free-kick after 79 minutes, with his touch falling for Hojlund whose wretched game continued as he failed to force the ball in from two yards, with Areola making a solid block.
: Bayindir 6; Mazraoui 5, Yoro 6 (Maguire 52, 6), Shaw 5 (Lindelof 52, 5); Diallo 6 (Eriksen 83), Fernandes 5, Ugarte 4 (Dorgu 59, 5), Amass 5; Mainoo 5, Mount 6 (Garnacho 59, 5); Hojlund 4. Substitutes (not used) Heaton, Casemiro, Fredricson, Obi.
Areola 7; Todibo 7 (Mavropanos 83), Kilman 7, Cresswell 7; Coufal 7 (Palmieri 83), Ward-Prowse 6, Rodriguez 6 (Alvarez 64, 6), Wan-Bissaka 9; Soucek 7; Bowen 7 (Fullkrug 73, 6), Kudus 8 (Soler 73, 6). Substitutes (not used) Fabianski, Paqueta, Guilherme, Ferguson.
: J Gillett 7
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