Manchester United tightened their grip on their return to the Champions League next season with a 1–0 win over West Ham on Sunday, but midfielder Scott McTommen pushed to clear Manchester City’s storm at the top of the Premier League. Given. Hammers, who finished fifth, pushed Vijay to second place in the table above Leicester and closed the fugitive leaders’ gap at 14 points. City have won 17 of their last 18 league games with their only defeat coming against Ole Gunnar Solskar’s men last weekend.
But United eased their local rivals’ path to a third title in four years with only two wins in eight matches before winning the Manchester derby.
“When we were looking at the league, it was difficult to see us at the top four in the minute,” said McTominay, the closest United player to Craig Dawson when the West Ham defender singled his lead to the only net . Goal at Old Trafford.
“It was a big push opportunity for all of us and to really show what a good player we are, but the games have done very well in Man City and we are just trying our best to keep up Huh.”
Despite having a game in hand over City, the Red Devils are unlikely to falter in Pep Guardiola’s men, but now enjoy a nine-point cushion over West Ham in their Champions League places battle.
“It was a big weekend for us,” Chelsea, Everton and Tottenham also lost ground in the top four races in the last two days.
“It’s three big points because we know that West Ham are challenging to come in the top four.”
Former United boss David Moyes has failed to win as a visiting manager at Old Trafford in 15 traffic, and Scott was left to take a more cautious stance before being left behind early in the second half.
Without the ineligible Jesse Lingard, who is on loan from United, Moyes also removed Pablo Fournals and Saeed Banama as club captain Mark Noble returned to a more advanced midfield role with full-back Ben Johnson.
“The way we set up didn’t quite work,” Moyes said. “We never really woke up in the park.”
The home side were without the firepower of Anthony Marshall and Edinson Cavani due to injury, so Mason Greenwood had a chance to lead the line and came close to opening the scoring in the first half of a few occasions.
Greenwood’s fierce left-foot shot was brilliantly replaced by Lukasz Fabianski at the post as the 35-year-old Poole showed why he was handed a new contract this week.
There was nothing Fabianski could do to stop the goal only as Dawson’s header in the second period trapped his own net in eight minutes from Bruno Fernandes’ corner.
Fabianski added another fine to jointly deny Fernandes a double lead shortly after.
Moyes sent on Manuel Lanzini and Benrama for the final 28 minutes and West Ham eventually came to life as an attacking force.
As the visitors progressed, United became more dangerous on the counter-attack and Greenwood performed a torrential blow against the post for the second time after a lung burst from inside his own half.
Promoted
The second goal did not come for the hosts, but an improved defensive record has been the key to another season of progress under Sölskjer, who is reportedly determined to reward Norway with a new contract.
United held on for their fourth consecutive Premier League clean sheet to shut down much-needed Champions League football resources the following season after a full year without a crowd at their 75,000-capacity home.
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