Irons so disappointing in defeat

The Hammers fell to such a disappointing defeat on Sunday night against Manchester United.

We played the first half at half speed, really, and barely laid a glove on Ole Gunnar Solskjaer’s side.

The absent Jesse Lingard and Pablo Fornals were so obvious, particularly the former, who regularly takes the game by the scruff of the neck.

His ability to collect the ball on the half turn and drive at the opposition was absent, and it hurt the Hammers dearly.

And in the second half, an unfortunate Craig Dawson own goal gave the home side all three points.

In a bizarre first half that saw the Irons barely cross the half way line, United had a number of big chances.

Marcus Rashford spurned a huge opening on 25 minutes, as Mason Greenwood wriggled free on the right flank and whipped a brilliant ball into the box, but Marcus Rashford missed his free header.

Lukasz Fabianski then made a big save from Greenwood as he shot for the bottom corner but saw his effort tipped onto the post.

The Irons were punished for their passivity on 52 minutes, as Scott McTominay rose highest at a corner and flicked the ball onto Dawson’s head; it went beyond Fabianski.

Bruno Fernandes had a great effort from the edge of the box saved by Fabianski but the Hammers, despite changes that saw Said Benrahma and Manuel Lanzini introduced, did not really trouble the United goal.

It could have been 2-0 on 76 minutes as Greenwood again got free and burst into the box, but his effort slammed against the post.

A hugely disappointing night.