Cresswell and Yarmloenko brush aside Manchester United in 2-0 win for the Hammers at London Stadium

A free kick masterclass from Aaron Cresswell coupled with Andriy Yarmloenko’s third goal in three games saw West Ham beat Manchester United 2-0 in the Premier League on Sunday.

The win means West Ham move into 4th place after their impressive start to the season that’s seen them lose just one game in six.

Yarmolenko opened the scoring on the 44th minute. Felipe Anderson passed into the box where Yarmolenko took the ball past Harry Maguire and comfortably slotted into the bottom left corner of the goal.

Aaron Cresswell sealed the victory on the 82th minute with a phenomenal free kick that rifled past an outstretched David De Gea. Creswell making a strong indication of why he should be preferred over the suspended Arthur Masuaku at left-back.

The first half had been a closely contested affair but after a considerable period of Manchester United pressure West Ham found themselves growing into the game.

There was an appeal for a penalty when Maguire appeared to barge into Sebastien Haller in the box but referee Anthony Taylor waved away the appeals.

From this point the Hammers began holding on to possession and of the two sides looked the more threatening going forward. Mark Noble harmlessly fired a shot from outside the box that David De Gea was easily able to catch and gather up.

Manchester United were not without chances themselves and were it not Declan Rice tracking back and dispossessing Marcus Rashford the away side could have taken the lead in the 20thminute.

Defensively West Ham looked sharp in the first period, the exception being Angelo Ogbonna who received a yellow card on the 13th minute after recklessly charging into Andreas Pereira.

Manchester United started the second half on the frontfoot and a Daniel James cross proved just a little too fast for Juan Mata to connect with.

On the 59th minute Marcus Rashford went to the ground unopposed in the West Ham box, clutching his thigh. Jesse Lingard replaced his fellow English international who looked to be in some pain.

On the 61st minute West Ham, who had once again started to control the run of play, came close to scoring a second when goal scorer Yarmolenko turned provider for Anderson who forced a reflex save out of De Gea.

Maguire tested Fabianski in the 68th minute, the former Leicester man shot straight at the keeper after a United corner.

On the 77th minute United threatened again, James ran on to a through ball but Fabianski anticipated and managed to get to it first. He palmed the ball into the path of substitute Lingard but Yarmolenko made a crucial block.

West Ham were forced to substitute Ryan Fredericks on the 78th minute over a potential injury concern and he was replaced by Pablo Zabaleta.

West Ham were without Masuaku who was red carded for two yellow card offences in their last Premier League game against Aston Villa. Cresswell was recalled in the absent left-back spot.

Manuel Lanzini was not present in the match day squad with Pablo Fornals, who has been involved in the action from the bench in the last few games, getting a start.

Manchester United were boosted with the confirmation Daniel James would be fit for the game but Paul Pogba was left out of the squad to take on the Hammers.

West Ham will play Bournemouth next Saturday at the Vitality Stadium against a Bournemouth side who have just beaten their south coast rivals Southampton.

West Ham – L. Fabianski, A. Cresswell, A. Yarmolenko (OFF), F. Anderson (OFF), M. Noble, P. Fornals, A. Ogbonna, S. Haller, I. Diop, R. Fredericks (OFF), D. Rice

Subs used: J. Wilshere, P. Zabaleta, R. Snodgrass

Man Utd – D. De Gea, V. Lindelof, H, Maguire, J. Mata (OFF), M. Rashford (OFF), A. Pereira, A. Young, D. James, A. Wan-Bissaka, N. Matic (OFF), S. McTominay

Subs Used: J. Lingard, Fred, A. Gomes