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Premier League

Dec 5, 2015 at 3pm UK

Man Utd Manchester United
0-0
West Ham West Ham United

Half-Time Report: West Ham United hold Manchester United at the break

By Stephen Topping, Reporter | 05 December 2015

West Ham United hold Manchester United to a goalless opening 45 minutes in their Premier League clash at Old Trafford, as the visitors twice hit the post.

West Ham United have held Manchester United to a goalless 45 minutes in their Premier League clash at Old Trafford this afternoon.

Manchester United's French striker Anthony Martial (L) vies with West Ham United's New Zealand defender Winston Reid during the English Premier League football match between Manchester United and West Ham United at Old Trafford in Manchester, north west E © Getty Images

The hosts controlled possession early on, but struggled to create many clear-cut opportunities. Marouane Fellaini was presented with the best chance of the opening 10 minutes, heading over the bar from a Paddy McNair cross.

West Ham impressed on the break, and came close to taking the lead when Manchester United keeper David de Gea produced a strong save to deny Victor Moses from a one-on-one opportunity, before Mauro Zarate headed over the bar from a corner moments later.

Louis van Gaal's side could have opened the scoring on the quarter-hour mark as Anthony Martial picked up a headed pass from Fellaini to inside the penalty area, only for the striker's effort to be blocked.

The visitors continued to look the more dangerous side, and twice came agonisingly close to opening the scoring when a Chris Smalling clearance hit Zarate, whose touch sent the ball crashing against the post, before the woodwork was struck again moments later when Winston Reid met a Zarate corner with a header.

United grew increasingly frustrated before the break as they struggled to create openings on goal, as Smalling and Jesse Lingard saw efforts get blocked by West Ham's resilient defence before half time.