Manchester United moved back up to second in the Premier League thanks to a 1-0 win over Champions League-chasing West Ham at Old Trafford, secured thanks to Craig Dawson’s second-half own goal.
In a tight and cagey contest, the home side were forced to wait until eight minutes into the second half to make a deserved breakthrough as Dawson headed Bruno Fernandes’ corner into his own net.
As a result, United leapfrogged Leicester City, who had moved up to second place with a 5-0 home win over Sheffield United earlier in the day, although they are still a mammoth 14 points behind rivals Manchester City at the top of the table.
As for David Moyes, who was back at Old Trafford after his brief time in charge of United, his team stay fifth, three points behind Chelsea in the final Champions League berth, but with a game in hand on the Blues.
United’s impressive run continues – Opta stats
- Manchester United have only lost one of their last 23 Premier League games (W14 D8), this after suffering three defeats in their opening six games of the season.
- West Ham have lost 50% of their 12 Premier League games this season against sides starting the day above them in the league (W4 D2 L6), compared to just 7% of their other 15 matches (W10 D4 L1).
- Only Leicester (4) have benefitted from more own goals in the Premier League in 2020-21 than Manchester United (3, same as Liverpool), with Lewis Dunk and Jan Bednarek the other two players to do so against the Red Devils this season, alongside Craig Dawson.
- Including penalties, only Chelsea (17) have scored more Premier League goals this season from set-pieces than Manchester United (16), though 50% of those have come from the penalty spot.
- Only Harry Redknapp (15) has managed more away Premier League games at Old Trafford without winning that West Ham boss David Moyes (D4 L10), with this defeat his 14th such trip in the top-flight (11 with Everton, 1 with Sunderland, 2 with West Ham).
- Manchester United’s opener was only Craig Dawson’s second own goal in the Premier League, also turning into his own net in April 2016 for West Brom against Spurs.
- West Ham failed to attempt a single shot on target this evening despite managing seven attempts, the highest number of shots the Hammers have had in a Premier League game without any hitting the target since August 2013 vs Stoke City (9 shots).
