in Manchester United, Match Review, West Ham United

Match Review: Rampant United tramble on Bilic’s West Ham in Old Trafford opener

Manchester United bounced back from their Super Cup defeat to Real Madrid with an emphatic 4-0 season opening defeat of West Ham United.

Slaven Bilic, already feeling the heat after a poor season last term, went into the match with a host of first teamers sidelined through injury. They did, however, boast former Red Devil Javier Hernandez heading a new look front line alongside former Stoke City forward Marko Arnautovic. As forward thinking as the Hammers looked, they were pinned back for large periods of the encounter by a vastly superior United front line.

The home side grabbed the game’s opener after 30 minutes, with multi-million-pound new boy Romelu Lukaku firing in with a little help from the inside of the post.

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Mourinho’s three-pronged attack continued to cause the visitors all manner of issues, with Marcus Rashford particularly free-flowing down the left-hand side. For all the youngster’s gusto and intent, he was however guilty of missing chances throughout. Despite his wastefulness, his link-up play with the big man up top will be encouraging for the home support.

Just after the break, it would be the formidable Belgian would make it two after losing his markers to nod in a Henrikh Mkhitaryan free-kick.

With West Ham, desperately trying to find chinks in the United armour, the introduction of Tottenham target Anthony Martial gave their opponents more counter attach themed worries. Indeed the Frenchman punished their wobbly kneed opponents when side footing superbly to make it 3.

By the time fellow countryman Paul Pogba converted from a similar position with no time left on the clock, Slavan Bilic was already pondering how he could fix his sides defensive issues in their next Premier League match.

Whilst United were hardly pushed by their inferior opponents, the performance of new midfield lynchpin Nemanja Matic, as well as just about every player in front of him, will give the side renewed hope that a title charge is a genuine possibility for the side this season.

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