West Ham United 0-2 Manchester United
Barclays Premier League
West Ham United's three-match home winning streak came to an end on Saturday when Wayne Rooney's first half double gave Manchester United a 2-0 victory over the Hammers.
Rooney's brace allowed the visitors to control a low tempo second half in which the Hammers were unable to test goalkeeper David de Gea.
The England striker's opener was one which will be shown again and again as he took aim from fully 45 yards to catch Adrian out in the Hammers' goal.
His second was rather more prosaic, profiting from a loose Mark Noble clearance, yet just as effective as the Hammers missed out on the chance to put more pressure on David Moyes' under-fire side.
Manchester United pushed from the off and went close in the third minute when Andy Carroll was in place to clear Marauone Fellaini's effort off the line following a corner for the Red Devils.
It was not long before they moved in front in spectacular fashion through Rooney.
The situation appeared innocuous enough when a high ball landed just inside the Hammers' path, but Rooney eased James Tomkins out of the way and, spotting Adrian out of position, unleashed a 45-yard effort on the volley which evaded the backpedalling goalkeeper and bounced into the net.
The Hammers looked to put the visitors' makeshift backline under pressure, but were being hurt themselves on the counter-attack and fell 2-0 down on 33 minutes.
Penalty appeals fell on deaf ears as Kevin Nolan went to ground under a Darren Fletcher challenge, and David Moyes' side broke quickly, allowing Ashley Young to cross low, and Mark Noble's attempted clearance to cannon off Rooney and past a helpless Adrian.
Rooney went looking for a first-half hat-trick when he curled a free-kick over the top and the visitors looked comfortable enough, despite West Ham winning a number of corners.
The second period began in a similar vein, with the away side's biggest danger coming on the counter.
West Ham's best moments were coming from set plays, but United did well to defend them without conceding a clear chance.
In truth, the game meandered to a certain extent with the Red Devils having done the damage before the break and 2-0 was how it ended.
West Ham United: Adrian; Demel, Collins, Tomkins, McCartney; Nolan (C.Cole 72), Noble, Taylor (Nocerino 83); Diame (Jarvis 58), Carroll, Downing
Subs: Jaaskelainen, Reid, Armero, J.Cole
Booked: Collins, Taylor
Manchester United: de Gea; Rafael, Carrick, Jones, Buttner; Fletcher, Fellaini; Young, Mata Welbeck 77), Kagawa; Rooney (Hernandez 77)
Subs: Lindegaard, Evra, Nani, Cleverley, Januzaj
Goals: Rooney 8, Rooney 33
Booked: Rafael
Referee: Lee Mason
Attendance: 34,237