UNITED GET REAL LUCKY
PAUL POGBA abandoned his trademark run-up to score twice from penalties and give Manchester United’s top-four hopes a boost at the expense of unlucky West Ham.
The Frenchman, who usually stutters his steps on the way to the ball, decisively converted both his spot-kicks past Lukasz Fabianski without hesitation to move United to within two points of Chelsea, who play at Liverpool today.
But West Ham were aggrieved that an early strike by Felipe Anderson was incorrectly ruled out and Pogba’s first penalty was harshly awarded for a foul by Robert Snodgrass on Juan Mata.
Their sense of injustice only intensified after Anderson had equalised early in the second half, with substitute Michail Antonio hitting the crossbar and then denied by a world-class save by David de Gea with the score at 1-1.
Pogba said afterwards: ‘We didn’t have a good performance but the result is there. We played a bit too slow and we were in danger. We are going to have to fix this.
‘We had the luck today. Sometimes it’s not for us — but it was today.’
United manager Ole Gunnar Solskjaer agreed with Pogba’s assessment, saying: ‘We got away with it and got three points.
‘West Ham deserved to get their goal but we’re allowed to have a good goalkeeper.’
Victor Lindelof and Marcus Rashford were put on the bench by Solskjaer, presumably with Barcelona in mind on Tuesday, while West Ham included reported United target Declan Rice in midfield.
The visitors looked ideal opponents for United on paper — without an away win in 2019 and having lost their last three without scoring.
Anderson thought he had ended the run when he sent a half-volley past captain-for-the-day De Gea after 11 minutes, only to have his celebrations cut short by a flag for offside —though replays showed Diego Dalot’s outstretched leg was playing him on.
United were fortunate to take the lead after 19 minutes. Mata was not going anywhere on the edge of the box when Snodgrass foolishly steamed into him.
Hammers skipper Mark Noble led the delegation of complainants to referee Graham Scott with a strong case that the challenge was shoulder to shoulder but the official was not for turning and Pogba lashed the penalty past Fabianski.
Snodgrass tried to make amends for conceding the penalty with a wicked corner after 25 minutes which Anderson headed just wide.
United tried to kill off West Ham by scoring a second before half-time and Romelu Lukaku had a shot that deflected and spun wide.
Many of the Londoners’ best moments came down United’s left flank, where Marcos Rojo was deputising for Ashley Young — the Argentinian’s first start of an injury-hit year.
Hammers boss Manuel Pellegrini registered his displeasure to the officials during the interval but, within four minutes of the restart, his side were level.
The goal was of United’s making. De Gea rolled a ball out to Pogba that wasn’t fully accurate and the Frenchman reacted too slowly.
Snodgrass intercepted and released Manuel Lanzini, whose clever cross was steered home by Anderson from close range.
It was nothing less than West Ham deserved and they nearly went ahead when Pablo Zabaleta tested De Gea — forcing Solskjaer to introduce Rashford for Mata after 55 minutes.
The substitute was in immediate action, forcing Fabianski into a wonderful one-handed save and then heading over the crossbar.
Rojo then powered forward and also tested Fabianski as United finally moved up the gears.
In contrast, West Ham seemed affected by the loss of Lanzini just past the hour mark. Pellegrini sent on Antonio for Javier Hernandez after 73 minutes.
Solskjaer was so worried by his team’s showing he then made a final double change — throwing on Andreas Pereira and teenager Mason Greenwood.
Lukaku was one of those replaced to rest his legs for the Nou Camp.
No sooner had they stepped on to the pitch than Antonio thumped a shot against the crossbar with De Gea beaten. The Spanish keeper then pulled off an incredible save to deny Antonio’s downward header.
Having ridden their luck, United then struck in 79 minutes. Anthony Martial sprinted clear and though a chasing Ryan Fredericks claimed he nicked the ball with a tackle from behind, he also got enough of the Frenchman to warrant the penalty.
For the second time, Pogba ran straight up and smashed it home.