Man United 3-1 West Ham United FT

MANCHESTER UNITED V WEST HAM UNITED
BARCLAYS PREMIER LEAGUE
SATURDAY 21 DECEMBER 2013
KICK-OFF: 3PM
REFEREE: MIKE JONES

FULL AUDIO AND TEXT COMMENTARY - WEST HAM TV

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Final score - Manchester United 3-1 West Ham United

95: Adrian clears upfield. Cole collects and runs forward but is stopped by the final whistle. We will have reaction and more from Old Trafford as soon as we can. Merry Christmas to one and all. See you on Boxing Day!

94: Into the final minute and Young is going to take this one. Evans meets it on the volley and fires high into the stand.

93: We're playing four extra minutes as Chicharito shoots again. Rat blocks and the ball goes behind for a corner. The Hammers half-clear the home side's seventh flag kick but soon concede an eighth.

90: Manchester United win another corner as Buttner is stopped again. It's taken short and Buttner has loads of space to cross. Evans collects at the far post and drives the ball through Adrian's legs and across the face of goal. It somehow eludes everyone. West Ham escape.

89: Buttners tries to atone for his error but his shot is blocked by Demel. The ball drops to Chicharito, who screws his volley into the ground. Adrian claims.

89: A fair few Manchester United fans have left to beat the traffic.

88: That was West Ham's first goal at Old Trafford since Dean Ashton's overhead in the 4-1 defeat on 3 May 2008. The scoreline nearly resembles that one as Buttner drives a low shot across the face of goal.

86: Diame collects a throw with his back to goal and tries to scoop it into the middle, but it's too close to De Gea, who catches. Time is running out for a most ridiculous of comebacks.

85: Valencia is urged to shoot from distance. He does, and almost finds the Upper Tier of the Stretford End.

83: Handball claims against Cleverley are waved away by Mr Jones. McCartney lofts a free-kick into the box and Tomkins wins the header. It's cleared as far as Morrison, whose shot slams into the left arm of Cleverley. Nothing given..

82: West Ham come again and Diame has space to deliver a decent cross, but instead it's a nothing ball that floats harmlessly over the crossbar.

81: GOAL! Carlton Cole scores! Buttners plays the striker onside from Maiga's through ball and Cole takes a couple of touches before slotting the ball through De Gea's legs. Poor defending from Buttner, good composed finishing from Cole. The away fans erupt and Cole acknowledges their cheers.

79: Morrison finds Rat, whose cross is too deep for Maiga or Cole. Demel retrieves and finds Collison, whose cross nearly falls to Diame inside the box. Manchester United clear, Tomkins heads out for a throw and Buttner comes on for Evra.

78: Chicharito is back on. Buttner is still waiting to make his entrance. The West Ham fans are doing their best to cheer themselves up with some 'Ole-ing' every time West Ham complete a pass.

78: Buttner is ready to come on, but Moyes may be waiting to see if Chicharito can continue. He doesn't look too steady on his feet.

76: That's a yellow card for McCartney and he can have no complaints whatsoever as he catches Chicharito on the ankle. The Mexican is still down and looks in some pain.

75: Rat is on for Collins. I don't know if that is tactical or an injury to the No19 as he trudges off.

72: Goal! Young. Great finish. Rooney tees it up after Valencia has got to the byline ahead of McCartney and cut the ball back to the striker. Young hits it first-time into the top right-hand corner. Collins tried to make the block, but he had no chance. Nobody was near Young, but that's unsaveable.

72: The West Ham fans welcome Cole with a bit of Spandau Ballet.

71: Although West Ham have had more of the play since half-time, they have not seriously threatened De Gea's goal. Maybe they will now that Carlton Cole is replacing Jarvis...

68: Chicharito has the ball in the net but the flag is up for offside against the Mexican. He wasn't offside. That should have stood. Young replaces Januzaj.

67: This is so frustrating. Noble and Morrison build up play patiently before Noble threads the ball to the byline for Diame, whose cross is too strong for McCartney at the far post. Manchester United play the ball up to Chicharito, who is fouled by the sliding Tomkins. Yellow card for the No5.

65: Jarvis catches Rafael late with a sliding challenge and is booked. Free-kick to the home side on the right edge of the West Ham penalty area. Rooney will take it. Mr Jones wants a chat with Smalling and Collins first. When Rooney delivers, Tomkins heads away at the far post.

62: Taylor is the man replaced. He's worked hard out there. Collison is on.

61: Jack Collison is going to be on shortly.

60: If the stats are correct, West Ham have virtually equalled their number of passes for the entire first half already since the break. They had about 80 before the break and have gone through the 150-mark now.

58: Diame gets the ball near the corner flag and holds it up for Demel, who beats two men and wins a corner. Taylor's corner is deep and Collins heads back into the centre, but Manchester United scramble it clear through Rooney. West Ham win it back and Noble finds Taylor again. His cross is good and Evans does well to head out for another corner. This one is dealt with more comfortably by the hosts.

57: The Hammers are giving it more of a go this half, for sure. They are certainly keeping the ball a lot better than they did before the break. Whether that's because the home side are sitting back on their two-goal lead, I don't know. Anyway, here come West Ham again...

54: Chicharito is on for Welbeck.

53: The Hammers are enjoying some possession and they come again down the left. Jarvis gets to the byline but his cross flies behind. Goal kick.

51: Collins pumps the ball down the line and Evans gets himself in a bit of a muddle. Taylor latches onto the clearance and wins a throw off Evra. West Ham are forced back but they are on the front foot again soon afterwards. Diame and Demel combine before the right-back crosses high for Maiga and Jarvis. It is just too strong and the ball flies away on the far side.

50: The home side have started the second half as they finished the first. They are in control.

49: Rooney takes the corner short and collects again. He crosses and Evans reacts quickest to head powerfully down. It's going just wide, but Noble on the post makes sure. Corner. This one is cleared.

48: Jarvis is caught offside as he chasea a diagonal through ball. From the long De Gea clearance, Rooney finds Januzaj and he whips in a superb left-footed cross that somehow eludes Welbeck and McCartney heads behind for a corner.

46: Jarvis and Taylor get the second half underway. Can the Hammers turn this around?

Half-time score - Manchester United 2-0 West Ham United

48: Jarvis has loads of space from Morrison's pass, but his cross is cut out. Manchester United break again and it's Rooney and then Januzaj, who shows off his quick feet inside the penalty area. Rooney has the ball back and shoots from 25 yards, but it's a fairly easy save for Adrian low to his right. He clears and a forgettable first half ends.

47: Rafael comes forward and tries to play a one-two with Rooney, but the ball is hit into Rooney's shins by Collins and spins away. Goal kick.

46: We're going to have at least three added minutes. I would have thought Big Sam cannot wait for the half-time whistle. Will the manager be tempted to make changes at half-time? Evans is back on.

43: Evans is down and needs the physio on again after being caught by De Gea as the goalkeeper jumped to catch a high cross.

42: Januzaj is booked for an absolutely blatant dive. That is embarrassing. He was about a foot from Collins when he flung himself to the ground.

41: That shold probably be 3-0. West Ham have a free-kick on halfway that is pumped into the box. It drops on the near side and Manchester United break at pace. Rafael and Valencia swap passes before the winger gets free 18 yards out. He has time for a touch, but opts to shoot first-time. The ball flies a yard over the top.

40: I really feel for the 1,800 fans sat to my right. They've had very little to get excited about.

38: West Ham have a free-kick. Noble lifts it into the box and De Gea collects high above his head. The Spaniard goes to clear out of his hands and Collins blocks it. You can't do that. Mr Jones has a word with the No19 and captain Noble.

36: Goal! That's probably game over, in all honesty. Januazaj stays on his feet this time after Collins' clearance had been charged down. Welbeck is the provider, playing the ball inside for Januzaj, who easily side-steps Collins and smashes an assured finish past the helpless Adrian. Nothing the Spaniard could do there.

35: Januzaj bursts into the box and then goes down as Noble comes across to challenge him. The ball rolls away for a goal kick. There was not a lot of contact there, and none at all below the shoulder.

33: I'm afraid this is rather one-way traffic at present. West Ham are resorting to long clearances and poor Maiga has no chance against two centre-backs. West Ham are having to work extremely hard to stem the tide at present.

29: The home fans are singing now at last. Januzaj shoots and the ball spins behind off a defender. Corner. Rooney takes and Tomkins heads away under pressure from Evans.

26: Goal! Losing concentration costs West Ham. Manchester United win a free-kick and take it quickly over on the far side. Welbeck flicks inside for Rooney, who runs at Tomkins before playing the ball left to Welbeck. Collins has lost the striker and then slips. Welbeck steadies himself and fires a low, left-foot shot past Adrian.

26: As if to illustrate my point, Diame slips and then loses control. Manchester United break again and Valencia has space. His cross is overhit.

24: Manchester United's most dangerous attacking moments are coming when West Ham cede possession in their own half. The Hammers need to be careful with the ball. McCartney wins a free-kick from Valencia on halfway.

21: Good football by West Ham. Noble is at the hub of it over on the far side, while Diame and Demel and then Morrison are also involved. Taylor is found following a one-two by Noble and he clips a pass to the far post. It's just at the wrong angle for McCartney, who is unmarked, and the ball curves behind for a goal kick.

21: Valencia does that so often. He just makes a yard of space for himself to get a cross or shot away.

20: Valencia is a quality player. He runs at McCartney and shoots. The ball takes a slight deflection off the left-back and Adrian has to push the ball around the near post for a corner. Januzaj takes and Evans is penalised for a push on Tomkins. Free-kick to West Ham.

18: Morrison is booked on his return to Old Trafford. He runs at Cleverley but the England man has too much strength. Frustration gets the better of Morrison, who rather cynically fouls the No23. No complaints.

17: Collins wins a header and then runs through Cleverley before clearing short to Morrison. West Ham break through Morrison and then Maiga, who side-steps his man and finds Taylor to his left. The No14 opts to shoot and the ball thuds into a defender.

16: Noble spreads play wide right and Demel is in the space behind Evra. Unfortunately, he cannot quite win a corner as the ball spins off a home player and stays in. De Gea collects.

14: The West Ham fans sing 'That's why you're going down!' following Rooney's free-kick. Got to love their sense of humour!

13: Morrison fouls Rooney 22 yards out. This is dangerous in the extreme. It's just right of centre. Adrian lines up his wall... Silence. Rooney steps up and curls the free-kick a couple of yards over.

11: You can't afford to do that here. First, Diame loses out when in control inside the home penalty area when an easy ball out to McCartney was on. Then, Noble gives it away as soon as West Ham win it back in midfield. Jones comes forward into the space and shoots lot, but Adrian is there again low to his left.

10: West Ham box Manchester United in for a while and the pressing works for a while. The home side eventually break out and Welbeck threatens to get in behind from Rooney's pass, but Demel pushes him wide and the chance is lost when the cross goes high over everyone for a goal kick.

6: Noble lifts a free-kick into the box and Maiga causes havoc. The ball loops into the air and Diame's overhead kick only connects with Evans. The Northern Irishman goes down clutching his back. The physio comes on, but Evans is fine to continue after treatment.

5: Januzaj shoots from 25 yards but Collins blocks and the ball spins into the air and into the hands of Adrian. Moments later, the Spaniard is out to the edge of his box to collect a through ball.

4: I've seen a replay of Adrian's save and it was special. Tomkins challenged for the ball and it rolled to Cleverley 12 yards out. His first-time shot was going in at the near post, but Adrian flung himself full-length to claw the ball out with his right hand. Brilliant.

3: The home side are on the front foot from the off. It's all coming down West Ham's left until Januzaj overhits the pass for Valencia and the ball goes away for a goal kick.

2: It's taken short by Valencia and then fired in by the Ecuadorean. The ball breaks to Cleverley, whose shot is on target but Adrian makes a superb save low to his right.

1: The hosts win an early corner...

3pm - We're off. West Ham United are attacking the Stretford End in the first half. Sir Alex Ferguson has just arrived, a few seconds late. You'd think his time-keeping would be good judging by how often he used to look at his watch.

2.59pm - Manchester United to kick-off through Welbeck and Rooney...

2.55pm - Here come the teams, led by captains Mark Noble and Patrice Evra...

2.50pm - There is a real murmur of expectation around Old Trafford, which is filling up quickly. It really is a venue to behold, no matter how many times you visit... The Claret and Blue Army are singing away to my left in the corner. There are about 1,800 of them here today.

2.40pm - Adrian becomes our third Spanish Premier League player. The other two? Kepa Blanco in 2007 and Diego Tristan in 2008/09!

2.30pm - I'm sure most of you know who Adrian is, but if you don't here is a short biography... Born and raised in Seville, Adrian spent his formative years with Betis, joining the club at the age of ten. He played for the club's C and B sides and was loaned out to lower-league clubs before making his first-team debut last season. Adrian's form saw him keep his place for the vast majority of the campaign, as he kept eleven clean sheets in 32 games, helped Betis finish sevenths and achieved a number of Man of the Match performances. Adrian, whose full name is Adrián San Miguel del Castillo, turns 27 on 3 January 2014. Of course, he is unbeaten as West Ham's goalkeeper, winning all four Capital One Cup matches he has started for the club since his summer arrival on a free transfer.

2.20pm - Good news from LIttle Heath, where goals from Djair Parfitt-Williams and Kieran Bywater scored a 2-1 Barclays U18 Premier League victory over Leicester City this afternoon. We'll have a report, reaction and highlights from the youth team's final game of 2013 for you soon.

2.10pm - Well, well, well... Big Sam springs a surprise in goal as Adrian is handed his Barclays Premier League debut! Matt Taylor, Ravel Morrison, Mo Diame and Modibo Maiga also start at Old Trafford. Six changes from the midweek win over Tottenham, with Demel, Tomkins, Noble, Morrison, Maiga and Diame all coming into the team. Rat, O'Brien, Diarra, Collison, Joe and Carlton Cole drop to the bench.

West Ham United: Adrian, Demel, Tomkins, Collins, McCartney, Noble (c), Morrison, Taylor, Jarvis, Maiga, Diame
Subs: Jaaskelainen, Rat, Collison, O'Brien, Diarra, J.Cole, C.Cole

Manchester United: De Gea, Rafael, Evra (c), Evans, Smalling, Januzaj, Valencia, Jones, Cleverley, Rooney, Welbeck
Subs: Johnstone, Giggs, Chicarito, Young, Kagawa, Buttner, Fletcher

1.45pm - The teams will be confirmed in about 15 minutes, so you still have time to enter #WHULINEUP on Twitter! If you guess correctly, you could win a signed prize!

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1.30pm - The Hammers have arrived at Old Trafford.  Modibo Maiga has done a quick interview with Premier League productions, no doubt outlining how he will score again this afternoon. We'll have exclusive images soon on our social media platforms...

Good afternoon and welcome to sunny Manchester (you don't read that too often, do you?!) for today's Barclays Premier League fixture at Old Trafford.

West Ham United travel to reigning champions Manchester United looking to end a run of three consecutive away league defeats. The Red Devils themselves are hardly pulling up trees either, having lost their previous two home league games.

The Hammers will however be boosted by the fact they recorded a win on their travels in midweek as they produced a stirring fightback to beat Tottenham Hotspur 2-1 on Wednesday night in the Capital One Cup quarter-finals. Sam Allardyce's side last won away in the league at White Hart Lane too, as they triumphed 3-0 over Spurs in October, with Ravel Morrison notching the third goal.

Morrison is the Hammers' top-scorer with five goals so far this season and he returns to the club where he started his career before moving to east London in January 2012. The 20-year-old looks set to start, with captain Kevin Nolan serving the second match of a three-game ban.

If West Ham are to prevail today, they will need to defend as well as they did at White Hart Lane in midweek. In goal, Jussi Jaaskelainen has kept eight clean sheets in the Barclays Premier League this season and the Finn is set to replace Adrian between the sticks this afternoon. 

One statistic that is in West Ham's favour is the fact Manchester United have scored just eight goals in eight home league games this season. The hosts have failed to hit the net in their previous two home league matches - 1-0 defeats by Everton and Newcastle United. Their cause this afternoon will not be helped by the absence of striker Robin van Persie with a thigh injury.

As well as the Dutchman's injury, David Moyes may also be without Wayne Rooney (groin), while Nani (hamstring), Marouane Fellaini (back) and former Hammers midfielder Michael Carrick (shin) are out.

For West Ham, Big Sam has James Tomkins fit again after a groin injury ruled him out in midweek, but Nolan, Ricardo Vaz Te (shoulder), Andy Carroll (foot), Stewart Downing (ankle), Stephen Henderson (shoulder), Winston Reid (ankle) and Mladen Petric (calf) will all miss out.

West Ham last prevailed at Old Trafford on 13 May 2007, when Carlos Tevez scored the only goal to complete the Great Escape. Since then, the Hammers have suffered six straight defeats at the home of Manchester United, but they were unfortunate to end up losing 1-0 in both the league and FA Cup last season. In all, West Ham have won twice and lost 15 times at Old Trafford in the Premier League.

We will have the team news confirmed for you at just after 2pm. Before then, why not enjoy our pre-match build-up on our social media platforms - links above - and enter our two matchday competitions on Twitter - #WHULINEUP and #WHUGOAL.