Paul Pogba scored twice from the penalty spot as Manchester United recorded a 2-1 win over West Ham United in Saturday evening's Premier League clash at Old Trafford.
Felipe Anderson cancelled out Pogba's first spot kick early in the second period, but the midfielder netted once again in the 80th minute to secure a huge three points for United.
Read how it all unfolded in Sports Mole's minute-by-minute live commentary of the action below.
Good evening and welcome to Sports Mole's live coverage of the Premier League clash between Manchester United and West Ham United from Old Trafford. Ole Gunnar Solskjaer's side currently sit sixth in the Premier League table, five points off fourth-placed Chelsea, who have played one game more. West Ham, meanwhile, have lost three of their last four in the league, the latest of which was a 2-0 defeat away to Chelsea on Monday night. Stay tuned!
Good evening and welcome to Sports Mole's live coverage of the Premier League clash between Manchester United and West Ham United from Old Trafford. Ole Gunnar Solskjaer's side currently sit sixth in the Premier League table, five points off fourth-placed Chelsea, who have played one game more. West Ham, meanwhile, have lost three of their last four in the league, the latest of which was a 2-0 defeat away to Chelsea on Monday night. Stay tuned!
MAN UNITED: De Gea; Dalot, Jones, Smalling, Rojo; Mata, Fred, Pogba; Lingard, Lukaku, Martial
WEST HAM: Fabianski; Zabaleta, Ogbonna, Balbuena, Masuaku; Rice, Noble, Snodgrass; Lanzini, Hernandez, Anderson
With Luke Shaw and Ashley Young both suspended, there is an incredibly rare start for Marcos Rojo for Man United. Elsewhere, Phil Jones, Juan Mata, Jesse Lingard and Anthony Martial all come into the XI following the defeat to Barcelona on Wednesday night. Changes all round!
As for West Ham, Javier Hernandez will lead the line against his former club with Marko Arnautovic left out altogether. Mark Noble skippers the Hammera from the middle of the park, while Manuel Lanzini keeps his spot in attack despite struggling to make his mark against Chelsea. Andy Carroll and Samir Nasri are amongst those still on the sidelines for Manuel Pellegrini's side.
For all of the praise that has come United's way in recent months, the Red Devils have lost four of their last five matches in all competitions and will be desperate to return to winning ways here!
KICKOFF: West Ham kick things off here...
... United will travel to Camp Nou on Tuesday night, but must first negotiate this match. West Ham deliver an early free kick into the home side's box, but Martial clears his lines.
SHOT! Masuaku strikes over the United goal from outside the box.
Not too much going forward from the home side in these early moments, and there is not too much of an atmosphere inside the stadium when considering how big a match this is.
Dalot has a cross deflected behind as United show their attacking intent. The corner comes into the West Ham box from Mata, but West Ham clear their lines through Ogbonna.
Hernandez picks up the ball just inside his own half and has the chance to slide Anderson through, but Jones does really well to make the block. The opening eight minutes of this match have flown past and West Ham have had some good counter-attacking moments thus far.
Snodgrass has been nice and bright for West Ham in the first 10 minutes here, with the Scot picking up a lot of space. The home side, on the other hand, are struggling to get going!
Martial attempts to find a pass into Mata, but Rice is on hand to make the clearance. Rice will be very important for the visitors if they are to pick up a positive result. United have not shown too much invention in the first 10 minutes, which will be disappointing for Solskjaer.
DISALLOWED GOAL! Anderson strikes home for West Ham, but the offside flag is raised! It was very, very tight, but the linesman was sure. The home side have got away with one there, that's for sure.
Dalot delivers a cross straight into the arms of the waiting Fabianski.
Lukaku is next to deliver a cross into the United box, but it goes over everyone and West Ham can resume from the dead-ball line. Slightly better from the home side in the last few minutes.
West Ham are off once again following poor work from Martial, but Pogba does really well to get back and make the clearance. The home side have been sloppy in the first 16 minutes.
Lingard flashes a low cross into the United box following smart work from Lukaku, but there are no takers. Much, much better from the 20-time English champions, though.
PENALTY! United have a penalty as Snodgrass brings Mata to the ground!
GOAL! MAN UNITED 1-0 WEST HAM (POGBA, PEN)
United make the breakthrough in the 19th minute as Pogba smashes his penalty past Fabianski. No elaborate run up on this occasion. United have the lead here!
West Ham break forward once again and Masuaku delivers a dangerous cross into the home side's box, but there are no takers. The indications are that there will be goals in this one!
West Ham have a free kick in a dangerous area as Pogba kicks Snodgrass on the head...
SHOT! ... Lanzini's free kick hits and wall and goes behind for a corner kick.
CLOSE! Dalot's header from a West Ham corner lands just over his own crossbar!
CLOSE! Oh my word! Anderson glances a Snodgrass corner, and it just misses the far post! West Ham will not believe that they are behind in this match considering the balance of play.
CHANCE! Big moment for United as Lukaku drives down the left before feeding Pogba, but the Frenchman takes far too long in a dangerous position and eventually offside is given.
SHOT! Dalot sees his shot from inside the West Ham box fly over the crossbar.
Good possession for West Ham at the moment as they move the ball across the pitch.
The home side survive another dangerous moment after Rojo had decided to leave his left-back position - with more care West Ham would certainly have scored here.
Little over 10 minutes of the first period remaining and United lead 1-0 courtesy of a spot kick from Pogba. West Ham, though, have had a number of good opportunities to score here.
Smart goalkeeping from De Gea to punch clear a corner as West Ham threaten to register once again. United break through Lingard, but Masuaku has the pace to make the clearance.
YELLOW CARD! Mata (Man United) is booked for a foul on Noble.
Little over five minutes of the first period remaining and West Ham continue to cause problems in the final third of the field. Man United, on the other hand, have been sloppy here.
Lingard goes down inside the West Ham box under pressure from Ogbonna, but the referee is not interested. Ogbonna is not best pleased with the Man United attacker here.
Lingard goes down inside the West Ham box under pressure from Ogbonna, but the referee is not interested. Ogbonna is not best pleased with the Man United attacker here.
SHOT! Fred strikes over the West Ham goal from distance.
SHOT! Lukaku has a shot deflected wide of the away side's post.
CLOSE! Smalling heads a corner over the West Ham crossbar.
Poor defending from Rojo sees West Ham win another corner, but the home side manage to clear their lines as we approach the end of the first period, which has flown past here.
Pass, pass, pass from West Ham as they continue to enjoy plenty of the ball.
De Gea has to clear a low cross from Anderson as the visitors continue to threaten.
Just one additional minute at the end of the first period.
HALF TIME: MAN UNITED 1-0 WEST HAM
So there we have it. The referee brings the first period to a close with United leading 1-0 courtesy of a penalty from Pogba. West Ham are unfortunate to be behind, though, with the Hammers having a number of opportunities to find the back of the net at Old Trafford.
STATISTICS! West Ham actually had more of the ball in the first period - 57% - while they had seven attempts during a productive opening 45 minutes. Man United, meanwhile, managed 10 attempts, but just one of those - Pogba's penalty - was on target. Also just the one yellow card to report with Juan Mata picking up a booking for a very late challenge on Mark Noble.
BENCH WATCH! Antonio, Obiang and Fredericks are amongst those on the West Ham bench tonight, but there is no Arnautovic in the 18. Man United, meanwhile, have options in the shape of Rashford, Pereira and Mason Greenwood, who will be desperate to play a part.
KICKOFF: Man United resume the action here...
... no changes from either manager at the break, which is not too much of a surprise. United almost make the perfect start to the second period as the ball breaks for Lukaku inside the away side's box, but Ogbonna manages to clear down the field.
Hernandez finds space inside the Man United box, but the offside flag is raised and the play continues. The next goal in this match - if there indeed is one - will be absolutely huge.
GOAL! MAN UNITED 1-1 WEST HAM (ANDERSON)
West Ham level the scores in the 49th minute as Anderson fires home at the far post following a deep cross from Lanzini. The Hammers certainly deserve to be level here.
All West Ham at the moment as they continue to boss this game.
This game is so incredibly open. Man United just cannot seem to keep the ball and West Ham really fancy it as they force corner after corner. Surely Solskjaer has to make a change here.
SAVE! De Gea is down to keep out a strike from Zabaleta.
MAN UNITED SUB! Rashford replaces Mata for the home side.
Lukaku delivers another cross into the West Ham box, but it was really poor. Little over 30 minutes of the second period remaining at Old Trafford and it is very delicately poised.
SAVE! Super save from Fabianski to keep out a powerful strike from Rashford!
West Ham are going to have to make a change here as Lanzini pulls up.
Lanzini has just walked back on, which is a surprise when considering how he pulled up.
Good defending from Zabaleta to clear a Rashford cross ahead of Lingard.
WEST HAM SUB! Diangana replaces Lanzini for the away side.
CHANCE! A couple of big chances for Man United! First, Rashford misses a header at the far post, but gets another opportunity and puts his effort over the West Ham crossbar!
Man United are very much on the front foot at the moment as they continue to move the ball in the final third. Rashford has made a huge difference since entering the field here.
Good defending from Ogbonna to clear a low Dalot cross behind.
SAVE! Fabianski is down to keep out a powerful drive from Rojo.
You do get the feeling that there is a third goal in this match, and Man United really need it if they are to stay in the top-four race. Perhaps Greenwood is an option for the home side?
Rice has been impressive for West Ham at Old Trafford as he continues to bite into challenges. The Hammers threaten with two corners in quick succession, but Rojo does well to clear.
Excellent defending from Jones to clear another corner ahead of Balbuena.
WEST HAM SUB! Antonio replaces Hernandez for the away side.
Greenwood, 17, will soon be entering the field for the home side. As will Pereira.
MAN UNITED SUBS! Greenwood and Pereira replace Lukaku and Rojo.
WEST HAM SUB! Fredericks replaces Zabaleta for the away side.
OFF THE BAR! Oh my word! Antonio hits the crossbar for West Ham with a wonderful strike! The ball then bounces for Anderson and De Gea is on hand to make the save. Big moment there.
SAVE! Stunning, stunning save from De Gea to keep out a header from Antonio!
PENALTY! Man United have another penalty as Fredericks brings Martial to the deck!
YELLOW CARD! Fredericks (West Ham) is booked for bringing Martial to the ground.
GOAL! MAN UNITED 2-1 WEST HAM (POGBA, PEN)
Pogba sends his penalty past Fabianski once again for 2-1 United!
West Ham are back on the front foot here as they continue to force corner after corner.
West Ham have had about six hundred corners in this match and De Gea has to punch the latest one clear as the home side come under pressure once again here.
Jones needs some treatment after picking up a nasty gash to his head!
Jones is back on for the home side and there will be a lot of added time here.
West Ham have the ball just inside the home side's half as we enter stoppage time.
We are into the first of five added minutes at Old Trafford.
Man United continue to sit deep and play on the counter-attack as we enter the final moments of this clash, which West Ham really do not deserve to lose to be honest!
De Gea has to leave his goal to clear ahead of Antonio as the pressure from the away side continues into the final 70 seconds or so. Can West Ham score a second late on?
Seconds to play here and the home side look to have done enough.
FULL TIME: MAN UNITED 2-1 WEST HAM
So there we have it. The referee brings the second period to a close with a couple of penalties from Pogba securing all three points for United, who move to within two points of the top four positions. Thanks for joining Sports Mole for the action. Until next time!
