Andriy Yarmolenko and Aaron Cresswell scored the goals as West Ham United recorded a 2-0 win over Manchester United in Sunday afternoon's Premier League clash at the London Stadium.
Yarmolenko struck in the latter stages of the first period before Cresswell netted late on - moving the Hammers into fourth position in the table and leaving a struggling United seventh with eight points from six matches.
Read how it all unfolded in Sports Mole's minute-by-minute live commentary of the action below.
Good afternoon and welcome to Sports Mole's live commentary of the Premier League clash between West Ham United and Manchester United from the London Stadium. West Ham have collected eight points from their five league matches this season to sit eighth, while United also have eight points to show from their five fixtures this term. Stay tuned for live updates!
TEAMS!
WEST HAM: Fabianski; Fredericks, Diop, Ogbonna, Cresswell; Rice; Andersen, Fornals, Noble, Yarmolenko; Haller
MAN UNITED: De Gea; Wan-Bissaka, Lindelof, Maguire, Young; McTominay, Matic; Pereira, Mata, James; Rashford
West Ham boss Manuel Pellegrini has made two changes to the team that started against Aston Villa last time out with Aaron Cresswell and Pablo Fornals coming in for the suspended Arthur Masuaku and injured Manuel Lanzini. Sebastien Haller will once again lead the line for the Hammers, with England's Declan Rice holding the base of the midfield.
As for United, it is the same team that started against Leicester in the Premier League last weekend. Anthony Martial, Paul Pogba and Luke Shaw are all still injured, but Daniel James has overcome an ankle injury to start. Marcus Rashford will lead the line with support from Juan Mata, Andreas Pereira and James, while Nemanja Matic starts alongside Scott McTominay in midfield.
The Hammers will enter the game off the back of a goalless draw with Aston Villa at Villa Park on Monday night. United, meanwhile, recorded a 1-0 win over Leicester City in the league last weekend before overcoming Astana in the Europa League during the week.
KICKOFF: United kick things off at the London Stadium...
... it must be said that there is a wonderful atmosphere inside the stadium this afternoon. United have enjoyed the early possession, with James already threatening down the left.
You do get the feeling that the first goal - if there indeed is one - could be crucial this afternoon. Not too much from West Ham going forward in the opening four minutes with United on the front foot. Rashford is through the middle with Pereira off the right here.
Quite a scrappy start to the match to be honest with neither side able to work the ball in the final third of the field. West Ham have just had a promising attack down the left, but Lindelof came across to clear ahead of Cresswell. Still goalless with six minutes played.
West Ham's first corner into the United box threatens to cause a bit of concern, but Rashford is up early to make the clearance. Yet to really take off this Premier League clash.
Rashford uses his pace to meet a through pass from Young, but the offside flag had been raised against the England international, who scored the winner against Leicester last week.
Mata has time and space in a dangerous position to pick a pass into Rashford, but the Spaniard cannot find his teammate and West Ham resume the game through Fabianski.
Very, very quiet game at the moment. Both teams are tight defensively and that is making it difficult for the attacks to make a difference. It is difficult to say that either side are really on top with both having little periods of the match thus far in London.
YELLOW CARD! Ogbonna (West Ham) picks up a yellow card for a poor challenge on Pereira, who did really well to make a tackle before bursting clear down the right. Good work.
Ogbonna just needs to be a touch careful now with Rashford buzzing around the central defender. That said, West Ham's defensive line is very, very deep at the moment here.
SAVE! Fabianski keeps out a long-range strike from Matic - comfortable.
Tentative would be the word to describe the first 18 minutes of this match, and that is probably quite kind. Neither side has had a serious attack of note thus far here.
There is no real atmosphere inside the stadium at the moment which is not really helping the game in terms of intensity. United have just had a corner and throw in quick succession but neither threatened West Ham. Still goalless with 20 minutes on the clock.
SAVE! Comfortable save for De Gea to keep out a curling effort from Yarmolenko.
Rashford does well to break clear down the left before driving into the box, but Rice was across to make a smart challenge. There might have been a pass on there.
Wan-Bissaka delivers a dangerous cross towards Rashford, but the England international does not gamble and West Ham clear their lines. The home side then deal with the resulting corner with the score still goalless in the 23rd minute of this contest.
United deliver another cross into the West Ham box through McTominay but there are no takers. West Ham are just slightly on the back foot at the moment, slightly.
Chong, Gomes, Lingard and Fred are United's attacking options on the bench - not an awful lot of goals there to be brutally honest. No Mason Greenwood today despite the 17-year-old scoring his first senior goal for the club against Astana on Thursday night.
Better from West Ham in the last couple of minutes as a spell of pressure raises the voices of the supporters, but United stand strong and manage to clear their lines.
Bit of possession for United now, but the Red Devils are not really going anywhere with the ball. It has been a scrappy first 31 minutes which has lacked quality from both teams.
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The United fans are in fine voice at the moment as they look to drive their team forward, but not too much is happening here. Haller falls to the ground inside the United box before looking to the referee, who is unmoved. Still all square in the capital.
SHOT! Pereira has a shot from distance deflected wide of the West Ham post.
The resulting corner causes a bit of concern, but West Ham clear their lines before breaking down the field. Wan-Bissaka, though, comes across to challenge Noble.
Little under 10 minutes of the first period remaining and West Ham have a free kick in a wide position after McTominay brings Noble to the ground. Chance here...
SAVE! ... Fornals delivers towards Noble, whose volley is deflected into the arms of De Gea, who makes a comfortable save to keep the scores level here.
This game really, really, really needs a goal. West Ham are the team on the front foot at the moment, but De Gea has not had to make a save of serious note thus far here.
James does some excellent defensive work for United as West Ham continue to force the issue. That said, still no outstanding chance for either side in this first period.
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West Ham break clear down the left through Anderson, but the winger's low cross is deflected clear before United manage to deal with the danger on the opposite side.
Well, this is not a first 44 minutes of football that will live too long in the memory. The quality from both teams has been very, very poor it must be said. West Ham have perhaps just about shaded it overall, although the Hammers have also created very little.
GOAL! WEST HAM 1-0 MAN UNITED (YARMOLENKO)
GOAL! West Ham make the breakthrough late in the first period as Yarmolenko finds space inside the United box before finding the bottom corner with a clever finish. Not sure about the defending from the Red Devils, but it is really good from Yarmolenko.
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Just the one added minute at the end of the first period.
HALF TIME: WEST HAM 1-0 MAN UNITED
The referee blows the whistle with West Ham leading 1-0 at the interval courtesy of a fine finish from Yarmolenko late in the first period. To be honest, it had been a very poor first half from both teams before the piece of quality in the 44th minute. United have plenty to ponder at the interval after a terrible opening half of action here.
STATISTICS! West Ham shaded the first-half possession with 52%, while they managed four shots - three of which were on target. United had two shots in the first half, with just one of those on Fabianski's goal. Just the one yellow card to report with Ogbonna going in the book for a poor challenge on Pereira in the 14th minute of the contest.
BENCH WATCH! Chong, Gomes, Lingard, Fred, Rojo and Tuanzebe are United's outfield options, and it will be interesting to see how Solskjaer uses his bench this afternoon. West Ham, meanwhile, have options in the shape of Ajeti, Snodgrass, Wilshere and Sanchez.
KICKOFF: West Ham resume the action here...
... no changes from either side at the break, which is not too much of a surprise. However, both managers will surely have alterations in mind as the play develops here.
Rashford does well to burst clear for United before the ball breaks for James, but West Ham manage to deal with the danger and eventually clear their lines.
YELLOW CARD! Mata (United) is booked for a trip on Rice.
CHANCE! Huge chance for United to level the scores as Pereira delivers a dangerous low cross towards Mata, but the Spaniard fires wide form close range! Had to score!
Rashford puts the pressure on Diop, who wanted the ball to run back to his own goalkeeper, but West Ham just about manage to deal with the danger once again. It is a much better game at the moment in terms of entertainment at both ends of the field.
It is difficult to imagine this United team coming back from two goals behind and therefore a second for West Ham would be huge. United are on the front foot at the moment, though, and Fabianski has just collected a dangerous cross from James.
Young handles a cross from Fredericks inside the United box, but the play continues with a corner kick. Fornals delivers into a dangerous area, but Maguire is on hand to make the clearance. Still 1-0 to the home side with 55 minutes on the clock.
A second for West Ham really would be big at this stage of the contest. United have improved in the second half, though, and are offering a threat in the final third.
SAVE! Fabianski keeps out an attempt from McTominay after another good spell of pressure from United, who have improved since the half-time interval here.
SHOT! The ball deflects back off Haller and towards the United goal but just misses the post. Little bit of pressure from West Ham now as the hour mark approaches.
Rashford looks to be finished here as he hits the deck and holds his groin.
Rashford is back on his feet - but his race looks to be run. Lingard is about to enter for the away side, and he might well have to play through the middle.
MAN UNITED SUB! Lingard replaces Rashford for the away side.
SAVE! Smart save from De Gea to keep out a strike from Anderson after the attacker had broken into a dangerous position. Good stop from the Spaniard there!
Little over 25 minutes of the second period remaining, and you do get the feeling that it is a huge finish to this game for United. Can the visitors find a response with Lingard currently playing through the middle? Their fans are attempting to drive them on.
Not an awful lot happening at the moment in terms of chances - it is almost as if West Ham want to sit deep and hold onto their lead, which is a risky tactic here.
Wan-Bissaka has two crosses blocked in quick succession as United look to find a route back into this match. The away side are on the front foot at the moment here.
OFF THE POST! McTominay crashes a low cross off the post from a wide angle.
CHANCE! Huge chance for United to level as the ball breaks for Maguire inside the West Ham box, but the England international cannot find a route past Fabianski here!
WEST HAM SUB! Anderson is replaced by Wilshere for the home side.
Still time for United to force a late leveller here, and the Red Devils have certainly had chances in this second period. You get the feeling that there is another goal in it.
MAN UNITED SUB! Fred replaces Matic for the away side.
Lingard manages to chase down Fabianski, who kicks straight into touch. United are putting the full-court press on West Ham at the moment.
YELLOW CARD! Noble (West Ham) is booked for a poor tackle on Wan-Bissaka.
United's attack breaks down through Mata, who then fouls Noble in a bid to regain the ball. Still 1-0 to the home side with little under 15 minutes of the action remaining here.
West Ham have a free kick in a dangerous area as Wilshere is fouled by Fred...
SHOT! ... Cresswell's free kick is not too far away - just misses the crossbar.
CLOSE! Fabianski does well to prevent James from having a shot on goal before Lingard's effort is deflected wide. Good pressure from United, but the home side manage it.
Little over 10 minutes of the second period remaining, and it does appear that James has moved into a central spot for United with Lingard going wide. Still 1-0 West Ham.
WEST HAM SUB! Zabaleta replaces Fredericks for the home side.
MAN UNITED SUB! Angel Gomes replaces Mata for the away side.
YELLOW CARD! Young (Man United) is booked for a foul on Noble.
GOAL! WEST HAM 2-0 MAN UNITED (CRESSWELL)
GOAL! West Ham double their lead in the 84th minute as Cresswell picks out the top corner with a free kick from outside the box. That is game, set and match here.
CLOSE! James breaks into a forward position for United, but the Wales international hits the side netting. Time is very much running out for the visitors at the London Stadium.
The home fans are driving their team towards the final whistle here.
WEST HAM SUB! Snodgrass replaces Yarmolenko for the home side.
Wan-Bissaka looks to deliver a cross towards the far post but it drifts straight out of play for a goal kick. There will be four additional minutes at the end of this match.
Not too much to report in stoppage time with West Ham simply closing out the final stages of the contest. The United fans are leaving in their numbers now.
Pass, pass, pass from United - but the Red Devils are going absolutely nowhere at a million miles per hour. It has been a rotten afternoon for the away side here.
FULL TIME: WEST HAM 2-0 MAN UNITED
So there we have it - the referee brings the second period to a close with West Ham recording a 2-0 win over United at the London Stadium. The Hammers go fourth, while United are seventh in the table on seven points. What a result for the home side.
That is just about it from me this afternoon - but I shall leave you with the match report from the London Stadium. Thanks for joining us once again, see you soon!
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Written by
Matt Law
Matt Law
