Manchester United faced another disheartening setback, suffering a 2-0 defeat against West Ham, intensifying the pressure on manager Erik ten Hag after an abysmal performance in London. This defeat adds to United’s string of disappointing displays in what has been a calamitous season thus far.
Ten Hag’s squad traveled to east London aware that a loss would push the Hammers ahead in the table, a scenario that unfolded as a resurgent second-half performance from David Moyes’ team secured a crucial victory for them in the capital.
The game initially lacked intensity, with neither side creating significant opportunities in the early stages. The first notable chance arrived in the 34th minute when Alejanadro Garnacho had an attempt thwarted by Alphonse Areola. West Ham’s Jarrod Bowen later tested Andre Onana with a powerful header before putting the Hammers ahead with a goal assisted by Lucas Paqueta.
Adding to West Ham’s lead, Mohammed Kudus capitalized on a defensive lapse to secure the second goal, cementing their victory. The aftermath of the game saw Mirror Football examining five key talking points from another dismal outing for United.
While Bowen’s goal might have been somewhat fortuitous, the build-up was noteworthy for Paqueta’s exceptional pass, demonstrating Brazilian finesse and elegance. Despite Onana’s initial save, Bowen managed to deflect the ball into the net, increasing his season’s league goals tally to 11, putting him on par with Mohamed Salah and second only to Erling Haaland.
Rasmus Hojlund, yet to score in the Premier League after 15 appearances, faced a challenging game, unable to trouble the Hammers’ defense significantly. Hojlund’s inability to seize opportunities highlighted the team’s ongoing struggle in front of goal. United’s attacking output this season has been lackluster, with just 18 league goals, the joint-lowest among top 15 teams.
The defensive crisis forced ten Hag to hand a debut to 19-year-old Willy Kambwala, partnering him with Jonny Evans. Despite the injury-enforced shuffle in defense, Kambwala’s performance was commendable, although he was substituted for Sergio Reguilon in the latter stages of the game.
The defeat sees Manchester United plummet to eighth in the league standings, while West Ham climbs to sixth, positioning them just four points adrift of the Champions League spots. United’s prospects for Champions League qualification appear increasingly distant, trailing six points behind fourth-placed Manchester City, raising concerns about their trajectory this season.