Premier League Match Report (22/07/20): Man United 1-1 West Ham
The Premier League's ninety-two remaining games, spread across nine rounds of games are set to play out beginning June 17th 2020, with Project Restart's health and safety conditions meaning the remaining games of the season will be played out behind closed doors. We will be providing match reports from these behind closed doors competitive encounters as the league campaign nears its end-game. All aboard.
Match Report (GW37): Man United 1-1 West Ham
Manchester United host a West Ham team with the top four within their control, all they need to do is get three points against former boss David Moyes at Old Trafford. West Ham are looking to confirm their status as a Premier League club next season, and the Red Devils need to shake off their FA-Cup loss quickly for a chance to break into the top four.
The game was slow going, the changes for Manchester United from their FA Cup semi-finals loss to Chelsea have taken some of their usual quick paced momentum out of their team. West Ham were in this game, they shared possession with United, and were pressing them well to win back the ball. There wasn’t any real action of note with the games intensity slowly building.
United were getting their feet into the game after a slow start. Rashford attempted a long range shot in the 37th minute, with Fabianski forced into a snap save to deny Rashford. Two minutes later there was pinball action in the Hammers box, with Greenwood pulling of a close range shot, but was denied by a brave Ogbonna block.
There were warning signs that West Ham weren’t going to be sitting idle, the youngster Ben Johnson collects a Rice switch of play, and the full-back delivers a perfect cross to Antonio who connects with a close range header in the 43rd minute, doing well to got ahead of Lindelöf, but de Gea handled it from the shot.
The breakthrough came through a bizarre Paul Pogba in the 45th minute ducks out from a ball and throws his arms in the air in a reflex action, and VAR confirmed it quickly. The in-form Antonio steps and rolls the ball into the back of the net for the lead. Manchester United stunned going into half time, with a much better half of football needed to win this game and go into the top four.
Manchester United came out of the dressing room with a point to prove, and pressing for an equaliser, Martial and Greenwood exchange quick passing to elude the Hammers defenders, with Greenwood through on goal he slots in with a shot Fabianski can’t save. Manchester United earn a quick equaliser in this all or nothing game.
West Ham refused to allow Manchester United a winning goal, and they still went for the winner. David de Gea’s goal was busy. A good save from de Gea after Bowen found space in the box in the 62nd minute, forced de Gea to put it over the bar. De Gea also had to deny another long-range Rice effort in the 68th minute, with lots of space opening in midfield for the Hammers, no defensive cover with two DM’s, was a concerning sight.
The substitutes slowed down the pattern of play and West Ham were stubborn to break down. Ighalo came on too late to impact the game, and David Moyes will be pleased to have held on to finish the game with a score draw. This leaves everything open for the final day of the season.
Manchester United Contributions
Goals: Greenwood (1)
Assists: Martial (1)
West Ham Contributions
Goals: Antonio (1)
Assists: Rice (1)
Man of the Match: Declan Rice (WHU)
Rice was a pillar for West Ham today, he had a real mature performance to help the Hammers get a result at Old Trafford. Rice created the penalty with his shot that Pogba deflected with his nervous arms and could have had a few goals of his own with long range efforts that forced saves from David de Gea. Rice was the difference in this game, and why Manchester United couldn’t break down the visitors. This was one of the performances that makes big teams look at Rice as a player of huge potential.
MUN 1-1 WHU - Insight and Analysis:
The changes after the FA Cup semi-finals slowed down this Manchester United team, it just didn’t have the same zip the other games have had, and it didn’t help an in-form West Ham kept up their form to grab a result. This was a 1-1 draw, no team was spectacular, it was just a game of two moments that defined the game. This sets up a fascinating final day, especially if Liverpool get a win over Chelsea.
Matchday Line-ups:
Venue: Old Trafford
Man United:
Manager: Ole Gunnar Solskjær
Formation: 4-2-3-1
David de Gea
RB: Timothy Fosu-Mensah
CB: Victor Lindelöf
CB: Harry Maguire
LB: Brandon Williams
CDM: Paul Pogba
CDM: Nemanja Matic
CAM: Bruno Fernandes
RM: Mason Greenwood
LM: Marcus Rashford
ST: Anthony Martial
Substitutes:
Sergio Romero, Juan Mata, Jesse Lingard, Fred, Diogo Dalot, Daniel James, Odion Ighalo, Aaron Wan-Bissaka, Scott McTominay
West Ham:
Manager: David Moyes
Formation: 4-2-3-1
GK: Lukasz Fabianski
RB: Ben Johnson
CB: Issa Diop
CB: Angelo Ogbonna
LB: Aaron Cresswell
CDM: Declan Rice
CDM: Tomas Soucek
CAM: Mark Noble
RM: Jarrod Bowen
LM: Pablo Fornals
ST: Michail Antonio
Substitutes:
Darren Randolph, Fabián Balbuena, Andriy Yarmolenko, Felipe Anderson, Manuel Lanzini, Jack Wilshere, Sebastien Haller, Arthur Masuaku, Conor Coventry
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