Man United 1 West Ham 0
Every West Ham fan must have felt depressed an hour before kick-off reading the team line-up. For all the brave talk of challenging the top four Moyes reverted to a defensive line-up and trying to sneak a point. Five at the back can be attacking if the full-backs get forward but Mark Noble can only play if he replaces Rice or Soucek. The combination of Rice, Soucek and Noble leaves the side massively lacking in creativity. It didn't work against Chelsea or Brighton and it didn't work here. What are the coaches at West Ham doing? Surely they should be asking of Moyes: "Do you think that's awfully wise, Captain?"
The spoiling tactics worked in the first half, though West Ham did not have a shot on target. United, who played on Thursday in Europe, couldn't bypass West Ham's block and their best effort saw a Greenwood effort brilliantly turned on to the post by Fabianski.
But with no Benrahma or Lanzini in the team to provide an attacking outlet the relentless United pressure was always going to tell. Disappointingly the goal came from a corner with Dawson heading into his own net after seeing the ball late and getting a nudge from Maguire.
Moyes brought on Benrahma and Lanzini for Noble and Johnson but it was too late. The Hammers improved, but too often the cross into the box was poor. United almost scored a second when Greenwood fired against the post. The result was never really in doubt and no shots on target in the game was embarrassing.
The ineligible Lingard and the injured Fornals were both missed, but Moyes is showing too much respect to the big name clubs. Yes, United scored nine against Southampton, and we kept them down to one, but a side going for the top four should have shown much more ambition. Great progress has been made this season but Moyes and the players have to do much better against Arsenal.
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