Tonight Man United took on a West Ham side who hadn’t won away from home since the opening day of the season, when they beat Wolves 2-0. Sir Alex Ferguson made five changes to the team who lost 3-1 to Everton at the weekend with Nemanja Vidic, Anderson, Darron Gibson, Ben Foster and Paul Scholes all coming in.

Edwin Van Der Sar wasn’t even named on the bench. Rio Ferdinand also wasn’t named on the bench and it has been confirmed that he has suffered a twinge in his back. United decided not to risk Ferdinand and he is now out of the Carling Cup final on Sunday.

The Man United starting XI was- Foster, Gary Neville, Wes Brown, Vidic, Patrice Evra, Antonio Valencia, Gibson, Scholes, Anderson, Dimitar Berbatov and Wayne Rooney.

After the loss at the weekend United really needed a good performance and to take all three points. We did get off to a good start with Gibson crossing the ball in the direction of Berbatov but Hammers keeper Rob Green was there to take the ball and get a boot in the chest from the Bulgarian.

United were moving the ball around nicely from the start, one of the first opportunities of the game came only minutes in. Anderson fed the ball to Berbatov, who got the ball to Rooney; he set up Valencia who wasted the chance with an air-shot. During that move, Anderson twisted his knee, he did manage to play on for a few more minutes.

The last time Anderson played for United’s first team was the Carling Cup semi-final first leg against Manchester City, which was back on the 19th January 2010. Unfortunately for him, he could really make his mark on the game due to picking up an injury and had to be replaced by Ji-Sung Park only 16 minutes in.

After the substitution by United the game opened up and there were a few minutes of end-to-end football. Valon Behrami saw a shot fall wide of the post. Alessandro Diamante saw his cross in takes a nick off Neville, Foster was lucky to catch the ball on the line. Then it was United’s go to test the keeper with Valencia forced Green to scramble the ball away, that was quickly followed with Berbatov trying to score but the ball was cleared away after some ping pong in the area.

37 minutes in United had the lead after some fantastic build up play. A brilliant ball from Berbatov found Valencia down the right, who volleyed the ball into the area and Rooney was there to head the ball past Green. That was Rooney’s 26th goal of the season, 22 of them have come in the Premier League.

Not long after the re-start Rooney almost had a second. Rooney had his back to the Hammers goal, he flicked the ball up into the air, turned and volleyed the ball inches over the West Ham cross bar.

Second half and Mido immediately replaced Guillermo Franco for the Hammers.
20 seconds into the second half United hit the woodwork. The ball was crossed in low across the face of the goal by Valencia, Park’s right foot shot hit the underside of the bar and bounced the wrong side of the line.


With 61 minutes gone, United doubled their lead with another Rooney header, his 8th headed goal of the season. It was also another goal, which was involved Berbatov, Valencia and Rooney. Yet again Valencia crossed in from right and Rooney was there again to head in United’s second from yards out.

Rooney, who had been superb all night, nearly bagged himself a hat-trick. He had the ball at the bye-line, went straight past Green and at an incredibly tight angle hit the ball on target but Julien Faubert cleared the ball off the line.

West Ham’s response was to bring Jack Collison on for Valon Behrami. 12 minutes later they also brought on Kieron Dyer for Diamante. Three minutes later, Sir Alex Ferguson decided that the points were in the bag so Michael Owen and Mame Biram Diouf were brought on for Berbatov and Rooney.


Owen, who is looking to stake a claim in the England side immediately showed Fabio Capello he can still score goals. Mark Noble went down after a challenge from Evra, the play went on, Scholes put Owen through on goal and he stuck the ball into the far post. West Ham complained but they weren’t complaining earlier when they played on whilst Anderson was down injured.

Scholes came close to getting United a fourth goal after going past a couple of West Ham players, with only the goal to aim at he managed to blast the ball over, with help from a bobble.

The match finished 3-0 to Man United. West Ham never really looked like they had the belief they could get anything out of the game. Vidic had the better of Carlton Cole all night, which in turn frustrated the Hammers. Rooney was sensational yet again and Valencia also had a decent night. Hopefully this win has given the players some confidence ahead of the Carling Cup final on Sunday.