Moyes stands by decision to entrust fatal spot-kick to Noble

David Moyes says he has no regrets about gambling on Mark Noble to take the spot-kick that could have saved the Hammers a point against Man United.

The club captain came off the bench in place of Jarrod Bowen deep into injury time to try and cancel out Jesse Lingard's 89th minute strike.

But David de Gea dived to his left to keep out Noble's effort - the midfielder having been given the difficult task of making his first and only touch count.

Failure from the spot meant a first defeat of the season for the Irons after a thrilling contest in which Said Benrahma and Ronaldo traded first-half goals.

"We got a penalty-kick and I've got one of the best penalty takers in the Premier League and also in Europe," said the Hammers boss. "If I hadn't made the decision to do it, I would have been more annoyed with myself. I happens. As a manager, you have to make decisions and this one didn't go right today.

"I asked him [Noble] and he said 'I'm ready.' He's got a great record so why would we not?

"We've missed a few recently so I thought if I get the chance, I'd bring Mark on."

Another reason for the defeat was arguably an inability to hold on to a 30th minute lead. United equalised within five minutes.

"I think it was our worst period in the game, just after we scored," Moyes said. "We never really got the ball back for about five minutes or so and it led to Manchester United getting back in the game. But we were playing a good team, so they are entitled to some of the ball.

"We did well with the ball in the first half and created one or two good opportunities.

"It was hard to take because we didn't deserve a defeat. We played very well. We were up against a team who've invested really heavily in their squad and it was a proper game today."

The winner for Lingard also hurt. He was outstanding while on loan at the London Stadium last season but showed no sentiment in coming back to claim a winner at what was his temporary home.

"I don't like him for his goal today but Jesse did great for us," Moyes said. "But football sometimes has a strange way of bouncing back. He made a bad mistake in midweek which cost Man United and today he scored a goal which wins them the three points. Hopefully we do the same next week."