Man Utd 1-0 West Ham: Player ratings as Craig Dawson own goal gifts Red Devils win

Manchester United had a Craig Dawson own goal to thank for their 1-0 win over West Ham at Old Trafford on Sunday evening, with Ole Gunnar Solskjaer’s side moving back up to second in the Premier League.

The pattern of the game was set early on with West Ham sitting back and soaking up anything United threw at them. Marcus Rashford and Mason Greenwood both came close to opening the scoring but the Hammers successfully navigated their way through to half-time with the scores at 0-0.

It took less than ten minutes of the second half for United to break the deadlock, with Scott McTominay rising highest to nod Bruno Fernandes' corner towards goal before Dawson inadvertently steered the ball home.

The goal sparked the Hammers into life as they pushed for an equaliser, but the United backline stood tall as they saw out the win.

Now let's get to those Manchester United and West Ham player ratings...

MANCHESTER UNITED RATINGS

1. Goalkeeper & defenders

Dean Henderson (GK) - 6/10 - Continued in place of David de Gea. Barely had a touch of the ball in the opening 45 minutes as West Ham struggled to break into the United half. Was a little more involved in the second and did everything that was required of him.

Aaron Wan-Bissaka (RB) - 6/10 - Tried to push further up the pitch but whenever he was in the final third he resorted to playing simple sideways passes.

Victor Lindelof (CB) - 7/10 - For much of the game his primary role was standing in the West Ham half and just playing it into midfield. When he was tasked with running back towards his own goal he did well to stifle Michail Antonio.

Harry Maguire (CB) - 6/10 - Suffered an early injury after an aerial challenge with Antonio but soldiered on. Was steady in possession and did well as the West Ham pressure began to mount.

Luke Shaw (LB) - 7/10 - Did his best to stretch the play and found a way past Vladimir Coufal on a couple of occasions. Looked the player most likely to create something throughout and completed his defensive duties with ease.

2. Midfielders

Fred (CM) - 5/10 - Very lucky not to pick up a yellow card within the opening 15 minutes after a lazy challenge on Jarrod Bowen. It felt like he was incapable of passing forward at times as he just instinctively turned back whenever he got the ball.

Scott McTominay (CM) - 7/10 - Constantly picked his head up to try and play through the lines but the options just weren't there. His header was key as United finally broke the deadlock thanks to the unfortunate Dawson.

Bruno Fernandes (AM) - 7/10 - Clearly singled out by the Hammers midfield as the danger man and was shackled for most of the first half. Looked a lot more dangerous as West Ham were forced to open up following the United opener.

3. Forwards

Daniel James (RW) - 5/10 - With West Ham sitting so deep United needed someone with a bit of guile and creativity to provide a spark - unfortunately that's not really the Welshman's game.

Mason Greenwood (ST) - 7/10 - Started in a central position but moved across the frontline and the visitors struggled to adapt to his movement. Would have added his name to the scoresheet were it not for a superb save from Lukasz Fabianski and a some rotten luck which twice saw him strike the woodwork.

Marcus Rashford (LW) - 6/10 - Missed an absolute sitter midway through the first half as Greenwood picked him out with a pinpoint cross. Continued to plug away but it wasn't to be his night.

WEST HAM RATINGS

4. Goalkeeper & defenders

Lukasz Fabianski (GK) - 8/10 - Produced an absolutely brilliant save from Greenwood to keep the scores at 0-0 shortly before half-time. Nothing he could do about the Dawson own goal and kept his side in the contest with a great save from Fernandes.

Vladimir Coufal (RB) - 7/10 - Given very few opportunities to aid the attack and was caught out a few times by the marauding Luke Shaw. That being said, he did well to recover when the England man escaped his grasp and his defending was good.

Craig Dawson (CB) - 6/10 - Very little he could do about the own goal which ruined his side's original game plan. Struggled to contain Greenwood as the youngster began to stretch the game late on.

Issa Diop (CB) - 8/10 - On the very few occasions United worked an opening on the wing Diop was well-placed to cut out the cross. Some sloppy touches when in possession but on the whole a great showing.

Aaron Cresswell (CB) - 7/10 - Played on the left of the back three but provided width whenever West Ham were on the ball. Carried the only real threat for the visitors with the scores at 0-0 as he whipped in a couple of great deliveries.

Ben Johnson (LB) - 5/10 - Looked a little flustered in possession and found himself just desperately trying to get rid of the ball. Withdrawn early on in the second half.

5. Midfielders

Mark Noble (CM) - 6/10 - Did what you would expect him to do as he sat deep in the midfield and tried to break up play. Ended up chasing shadows for much of the contest but put a shift in for his team.

Tomas Soucek (CM) - 7/10 - It genuinely felt like he was everywhere. An absolute colossus in his own box when defending set pieces, combative in the midfield and helped support West Ham's attacks.

Declan Rice (CM) - 7/10 - Slotted into the backline at times as he looked to pick up the ball from deep and drive his side up the pitch. Made a couple of clever interceptions which helped to give his teammates a breather.

Jarrod Bowen (AM) - 5/10 - Was a huge part of the Hammers game plan as they looked to support Antonio without the legs of Jesse Lingard against his parent club. Couldn't really link up the play as David Moyes would have liked and he left his frontman isolated.

6. Forward

Michail Antonio (ST) - 6/10 - Given the unenviable task of leading the West Ham line alone. Worked tirelessly all game but he just couldn't keep hold of the ball and ultimately used up a lot of unnecessary energy by chasing lost causes.

7. Substitutes

Said Benrahma (RW) - 6/10

Manuel Lanzini (AM) - 5/10