Manchester United once again lost away to a top side on Saturday when they were beaten 2-0 by West Ham United.
Late goals from Jarrod Bowen and Mohammed Kudus ensured the Hammers enjoyed some Christmas cheer at the end of a difficult week for David Moyes. But for the Red Devils it was another story of one step forward and two back following that draw at Liverpool last Sunday.
United had been the better side in the opening hour but failed to create any real openings, and once showed their inability to respond from setbacks. It means they'll spend Christmas in eighth and have now not scored in four straight games - the longest run since 1992.
It was a low-key opening to the game at the London Stadium, with Emerson Palmieri’s strike that was palmed wide by Andre Onana the only chance of note inside the first 30 minutes. West Ham’s technical players were creating some decent passing sequences but couldn't fashion sufficient openings.
It was United who took more of an impetus as the half progressed and amassed 62 percent possession by the break. But for all that time on the ball, United’s best moments came on the break. Alejandro Garnacho caused West Ham issues down the left and should have netted on 35 minutes when he was fed the ball by Antony but couldn't bend it into the far corner, while Lucas Paqueta’s determined tracking back snuffed out Garnacho’s run and cross.
Antony and Kobbie Mainoo also tested Alphonse Areola with shots from outside the area, and the Hammers stopper was relieved to see the latter effort roll just wide after it spilled from his clutches.
The second half started in a similar vein, with United’s best moments coming down the left. Luke Shaw teed up Bruno Fernandes for a header but he failed to test Areola. At the other end, Bowen’s headed effort forced Andre Onana to scramble across his goal and palm the shot over.
United had been the better side for half an hour, but the lack of creativity in front of goal again cost them. When the first goal came it was the Hammers who grabbed it, as Paqueta’s inch-perfect pass with the outside of his foot found Bowen. The ex-Hull City man took a touch and from a few yards poked the ball towards goal - Onana managed to keep the shot out, but it bounced back into the goal off Bowen’s knee.
Suddenly, the London Stadium was buoyant, the fans enthusiastically cheering on a side that could now spend Christmas in sixth place. United are incapable of dealing with adversity; what came next was inevitable.
After Kobbie Mainoo mis-controlled a ball in midfield, West Ham pounced. Kudus and Paqueta exchanged passes and motored forward at haste. The former then unleashed a powerful effort to double the Hammers’ lead in the 78th minute.
United had no response. Marcus Rashford and Scott McTominay produced weak attempts, while Facundo Pellistri saw his blocked. The 2-0 defeat was United's 13th of the season, the highest number before Christmas in a single campaign since 1930.
Here’s how we rated the United players…
1. Andre Onana- 6
His kicking was good, for the most part, and the goalkeeper made a good save to keep out from Bowen in the 53rd minute. He was a tad unlucky for West Ham's two goals.
2. Aaron Wan-Bissaka- 6
Didn't offer much going forward, although he wasn't caught out too much at the back.
3. Willy Kambwala- 6 (off 84)
Making his senior debut, the youngster looked relatively comfortable in defence.
4. Jonny Evans- 6
Started well but struggled to cope with West Ham's attacking players in the second half. The centre-back could have done better to close down Kudus' shot for the second goal.