Marcus Rashford’s smile lit up Old Trafford. There have been testing times for Manchester United’s No.10 in recent seasons, particularly last term when struggling with injury and finding it just as difficult to score, but now Rashford is exuding confidence and scoring more frequently. He is a player reborn and befits United’s upward trajectory.
Rashford’s goal in the 38th minute of this enthralling contest with West Ham United was his seventh of the campaign but the reason for the notable celebrations was that it was Rashford’s 100th for United. He is one of their own, and now has a ton of his own.
It was a well-worked goal too, featuring a Bruno Fernandes pass, a fine Christian Eriksen delivery and a powerful header by Rashford. The forward’s performance and efforts warranted such a moment, and it came on the 85th anniversary of United always having an academy player in their match-day squad.
This was another positive result for Erik ten Hag and his team. They jumped up to fourth in the Premier League table and barring the nervy finish, they were value for their three points. Whether it be up top or at the back, United were strong.
For West Ham, this was a fifth league defeat away from the London Stadium and saw them fail to score once more. The visitors were muted in the first half and only began to challenge United in the final third when it was too late.
That said, David De Gea had to pull off a handful of crucial saves to deny them and preserve the one-goal lead. He along with Lisandro Martinez and Diogo Dalot came in for praise for a valiant defensive display.
Story of the game
United were the dominant team before taking the lead late in the first half. There was a feel-good atmosphere around Old Trafford given the home side’s seven-game unbeaten run and Ten Hag’s team took the fight to West Ham with the aim of leaping above Chelsea in the standings.
There was a start for Harry Maguire in central defence with Raphael Varane out injured and Victor Lindelof absent through illness, and the club captain was able to ease into his first start since mid-August. Cristiano Ronaldo was also rewarded for his display and goal against FC Sheriff in midweek with a place in the XI.
It was Ronaldo who first warmed Lukasz Fabianski’s gloves with an effort from distance, the type of shot which the Portugal international was once renowned for converting but is no longer part of his repertoire. Soon after Ronaldo’s attempt came Rashford cutting in from the right with his shot being blocked by Craig Dawson. Rashford also went close with a header but directed straight at the visiting ‘keeper.
The next time Rashford was presented with a header, he took it. Diogo Dalot threw the ball into play and Eriksen swept a first-time pass to Fernandes, who returned the ball back to the Dane. Eriksen then whipped an inviting cross which Rashford met at the back post, leaving Thilo Kehrer in his slipstream, and the bullet header was beyond Fabianski in a flash. It was a terrific goal.
A lacklustre start away from home is becoming customary for West Ham and there was little prospect of them registering only their fourth away league goal of the campaign. West Ham’s most promising attack was halted before it truly got going: Declan Rice scampered down the left touchline but his progress was wrongly haltered when the linesman deemed the ball to have gone out — it hadn’t.
Apart from some neat touches and runs from Said Benrahma, West Ham were defensively focused in the first hour. And their primary concern was a confident Rashford who quickly bent a shot wide of the West Ham goal, which was now occupied by Alphonse Areola who had replaced the injured Fabianski at the interval.
David Moyes also astutely pulled Gianluca Scamacca early in the second half after the Italian could have seen a second yellow card for a high boot on Martinez. That was the only imprint he made in the United penalty area. Still, the hosts had to be alert to West Ham’s growing threat with Dalot heading clear a good cross from Rice which could have fell for a team-mate.
United’s failure to kill off the game provided a nervy finale. Despite Ronaldo slicing one shot wide when bearing down on goal and then seeing another deflected over, West Ham mustered more of a charge sensing a twist in the tale; they were partly invited by United.
Ten Hag sent on Scott McTominay and Fred to form a midfield blockade with Casemiro but it couldn’t stop a revitalised West Ham. De Gea tipped over Michail Antonio’s shot and was even more agile to turn away Kurt Zouma’s header. A Rice shot was also parried by the home ‘keeper as United were left to hang on.
Fred could have brought an end to the contest when he headed against the upright, but soon enough United were home and dry. Rashford being the difference this time.
Player of the match: Marcus Rashford
Diogo Dalot consistently defended United’s back post with aplomb in what was a very strong performance from the Portuguese full back. Likewise, Lisandro Martinez was instrumental to the home team’s defending and keeping West Ham at bay in the latter stages. But it was Marcus Rashford who proved the difference here.
His landmark goal was rightly celebrated and the powerful header which he dispatched past Lukasz Fabianski exhibited the confidence that currently courses through the forward. With Gareth Southgate in attendance, Rashford did much to help his chances of being included in England’s World Cup squad.