The FA Cup - Fifth Round
Man UtdManchester United1West HamWest Ham United0

Manchester United 1-0 West Ham: Ole Gunnar Solskjaer praises 'low' players for bouncing back

By Simon StoneBBC Sport at Old Trafford

Manchester United boss Ole Gunnar Solskjaer said he was pleased with his players' mentality in their FA Cup fifth-round win over West Ham United after "feeling low" following the draw with Everton.

Scott McTominay scored in extra time to send the Red Devils into the quarter-finals.

An otherwise flat match did contain the first use of a concussion substitution - when Issa Diop was replaced at half-time by Ryan Fredericks after a clash of heads with Anthony Martial.

And Solskjaer felt his players provided the perfect response to conceding a late equaliser in the 3-3 draw with the Toffees on Saturday.

"We needed to have a good result and a good feeling today because we were low after the Everton game," he said.

"That was hard to take but they were really focused and did the job."

Manchester United captain Harry Maguire said he felt the players showed their strength of character to bounce back from the Everton result.

"Last Saturday was tough - especially in the second half," he said.

"We showed great spirit and a good mentality to come back and perform. We know it's a long season and tonight was perfect. It's important to get through."

On a bitterly cold night at Old Trafford, the hosts came closest to breaking the deadlock inside 90 minutes when Lukasz Fabianski reacted quickly to turn the ball on to a post after Victor Lindelof's header had taken a huge deflection off Craig Dawson.

But McTominay had the final word. Following a break that took them from one penalty area to the other, Marcus Rashford - on his 250th United appearance - flicked a delicate pass into McTominay's path with the outside of his foot and the Scotland midfielder's first-time finish flew low into the net.

It means Manchester United have reached the last eight for a seventh consecutive year as they bid to lift the trophy for the first time since 2016.

Tough night for Moyes

It was another disappointing Old Trafford night for former Manchester United manager David Moyes.

Other than during his own ill-fated eight months in charge, it is a ground he has never won at, either with Everton, Sunderland or West Ham.

Before kick-off, the Scot had a good chat with current boss Ole Gunnar Solskjaer and doubtless wished he had been granted the same time afforded to the Norwegian, who is attempting to win a trophy after losing four successive semi-finals.

Moyes' hopes of stopping the hosts in their tracks were badly affected by injuries that now threaten to derail what so far has been an excellent season.

The sight of Angelo Ogbonna hobbling down the tunnel with his left boot removed, after being stood on by Martial, did not look great, and the manner of Diop's exit suggests Moyes will be without two central defenders for Monday's encounter with Sheffield United.

With their only orthodox striker, Michail Antonio, also missing, West Ham never really gained any momentum and were not helped by yet another injury - this time to Antonio's replacement Andriy Yarmolenko - early in the second half.

Said Benrahma had the Hammers' only effort on target, but even if he had beaten Dean Henderson with a close-range header at the end of extra time, it would almost certainly have been disallowed for offside.

Telles makes most of opportunity

A £13.6m summer deadline-day signing from Porto, Alex Telles has been a bit of a conundrum during his time at Old Trafford so far.

The Brazilian evidently has ability - and a vicious left foot - but consistency has eluded him and, with Luke Shaw in the best form of his career, Telles has been unable to force his way into Solskjaer's team on a regular basis.

This was one of his better all-round performances.

It was a Telles corner that created the chance Fabianski kept out and it was his surging run and cutback that Donny van de Beek badly miscued, drawing a frustrated slap at an advertising hoarding from the defender.

Telles also had a fierce shot blocked and then, with the game entering its final 10 minutes, he curled over a superb cross that Martial headed wide.

He was also decent doing the defensive work he is employed for, most notably showing an excellent turn of speed to prevent a threat on the home goal as he got back to rob Jarrod Bowen after Yarmolenko had sent his team-mate through.

Telles did not reappear for extra time as Solskjaer changed both his full-backs, but Telles could still be pleased with his contribution.

First concussion substitute

Issa Diop
Issa Diop (middle left) didn't return from the dressing room for the second half of the game

This game will have a place in football history after Diop became the sport's first concussion substitute in England.

The French defender was introduced as a replacement himself after Ogbonna was forced off with an ankle injury when he was caught on the follow through by Martial.

Diop clashed heads with his compatriot as the pair rose to compete for a header at a West Ham corner.

Both players received treatment and continued to half-time. But after a further examination in the dressing room, in line with the adopted protocols, Diop was replaced by Fredericks, with the visitors reverting to a three-man defence.

"He was fine and I think he is fine," said Moyes. "But he had a bump on the head and we didn't want to take any chances.

"I hope there are no problems. I don't think there is."

Man Utd's record-equalling run - the stats

  • Manchester United have won their last nine home FA Cup matches, their joint-longest home winning run in the competition, equalling their nine consecutive home wins between 1908 and 1912.
  • West Ham have now been eliminated in each of their last four FA Cup ties against Manchester United, losing in a different round each time: fourth round in 2002-03, third round in 2012-13, quarter-final in 2015-16 and fifth round in 2020-21.
  • Scott McTominay has scored seven goals in 30 appearances for Manchester United this season - as many as he scored in his 84 appearances in his first four seasons between 2016-17 and 2019-20.
  • Marcus Rashford registered his ninth assist in all competitions for Manchester United this season, his best return in a single campaign for the club and second only to Bruno Fernandes for the Red Devils in 2020-21 (11).
  • Aged 23 years and 101 days, Marcus Rashford became the fourth youngest player in Manchester United's history to reach 250 games for the club, behind only Norman Whiteside (22 years 192 days), George Best (22 years 199 days) and Ryan Giggs (22 years 301 days).
  • Both Marcus Rashford and Anthony Martial played their 250th matches for Man Utd in the same game tonight, only the second time in the club's history that has happened - the other occasion was also at home against West Ham, in August 1986 when both Mike Duxbury and Frank Stapleton did so.

What next?

Manchester United are next in action at West Bromwich Albion in the Premier League on Sunday (14:00 GMT). West Ham entertain Sheffield United on Monday (18:00).

Player of the match

FabianskiLukasz Fabianski

with an average of 6.97

Manchester United

  1. Squad number39Player nameMcTominay
    Average rating

    6.65

  2. Squad number23Player nameShaw
    Average rating

    5.91

  3. Squad number26Player nameHenderson
    Average rating

    5.82

  4. Squad number7Player nameCavani
    Average rating

    5.60

  5. Squad number18Player nameBruno Fernandes
    Average rating

    5.54

  6. Squad number33Player nameWilliams
    Average rating

    5.46

  7. Squad number27Player nameAlex Telles
    Average rating

    5.41

  8. Squad number11Player nameGreenwood
    Average rating

    5.32

  9. Squad number29Player nameWan-Bissaka
    Average rating

    5.29

  10. Squad number10Player nameRashford
    Average rating

    5.26

  11. Squad number17Player nameFred
    Average rating

    5.10

  12. Squad number2Player nameLindelöf
    Average rating

    5.03

  13. Squad number31Player nameMatic
    Average rating

    4.81

  14. Squad number34Player namevan de Beek
    Average rating

    4.74

  15. Squad number5Player nameMaguire
    Average rating

    4.74

  16. Squad number9Player nameMartial
    Average rating

    4.60

West Ham United

  1. Squad number1Player nameFabianski
    Average rating

    6.97

  2. Squad number15Player nameDawson
    Average rating

    6.47

  3. Squad number31Player nameJohnson
    Average rating

    6.11

  4. Squad number28Player nameSoucek
    Average rating

    5.93

  5. Squad number3Player nameCresswell
    Average rating

    5.92

  6. Squad number41Player nameRice
    Average rating

    5.88

  7. Squad number5Player nameCoufal
    Average rating

    5.84

  8. Squad number16Player nameNoble
    Average rating

    5.73

  9. Squad number24Player nameFredericks
    Average rating

    5.71

  10. Squad number9Player nameBenrahma
    Average rating

    5.56

  11. Squad number21Player nameOgbonna
    Average rating

    5.45

  12. Squad number20Player nameBowen
    Average rating

    5.44

  13. Squad number18Player nameFornals
    Average rating

    5.29

  14. Squad number23Player nameDiop
    Average rating

    5.29

  15. Squad number45Player nameOdubeko
    Average rating

    5.24

  16. Squad number7Player nameYarmolenko
    Average rating

    5.04

  17. Squad number10Player nameLanzini
    Average rating

    4.91

Line-ups

Man Utd

Formation 4-2-3-1

  • 26Henderson
  • 29Wan-BissakaSubstituted forWilliamsat 90'minutes
  • 2Lindelöf
  • 5Maguire
  • 27TellesSubstituted forShawat 90'minutes
  • 17Fred
  • 31MaticSubstituted forMcTominayat 73'minutes
  • 11GreenwoodSubstituted forCavaniat 86'minutes
  • 34van de BeekSubstituted forBruno Fernandesat 73'minutes
  • 10Rashford
  • 9Martial

Substitutes

  • 7Cavani
  • 13Grant
  • 18Bruno Fernandes
  • 19Diallo
  • 21James
  • 23Shaw
  • 33Williams
  • 38Tuanzebe
  • 39McTominay

West Ham

Formation 4-2-3-1

  • 1Fabianski
  • 5Coufal
  • 15Dawson
  • 21OgbonnaSubstituted forDiopat 16'minutesSubstituted forFredericksat 45'minutes
  • 3Cresswell
  • 16Noble
  • 41Rice
  • 20BowenSubstituted forJohnsonat 45'minutes
  • 28Soucek
  • 18FornalsSubstituted forBenrahmaat 88'minutes
  • 7YarmolenkoSubstituted forOdubekoat 54'minutesSubstituted forLanziniat 112'minutes

Substitutes

  • 4Balbuena
  • 9Benrahma
  • 10Lanzini
  • 14Alves
  • 23Diop
  • 24Fredericks
  • 31Johnson
  • 34Trott
  • 45Odubeko
Referee:
Paul Tierney

Match Stats

Home TeamMan UtdAway TeamWest Ham
Possession
Home62%
Away38%
Shots
Home17
Away3
Shots on Target
Home5
Away1
Corners
Home6
Away4
Fouls
Home15
Away12

Live Text

  1. Post update

    Match ends, Manchester United 1, West Ham United 0.

  2. Post update

    Second Half Extra Time ends, Manchester United 1, West Ham United 0.

  3. Post update

    Attempt saved. Anthony Martial (Manchester United) right footed shot from the centre of the box is saved in the bottom left corner. Assisted by Fred.

  4. Post update

    Foul by Edinson Cavani (Manchester United).

  5. Post update

    Ben Johnson (West Ham United) wins a free kick in the defensive half.

  6. Post update

    Fred (Manchester United) wins a free kick in the defensive half.

  7. Post update

    Foul by Vladimir Coufal (West Ham United).

  8. Post update

    Attempt saved. Anthony Martial (Manchester United) right footed shot from the centre of the box is saved in the bottom left corner. Assisted by Scott McTominay.

  9. Post update

    Attempt saved. Saïd Benrahma (West Ham United) header from the centre of the box is saved in the top centre of the goal. Assisted by Ben Johnson with a cross.

  10. Substitution

    Substitution, West Ham United. Manuel Lanzini replaces Ademipo Odubeko.

  11. Post update

    Foul by Luke Shaw (Manchester United).

  12. Post update

    Ryan Fredericks (West Ham United) wins a free kick in the defensive half.

  13. Post update

    Foul by Edinson Cavani (Manchester United).

  14. Post update

    Ben Johnson (West Ham United) wins a free kick in the defensive half.

  15. Post update

    Luke Shaw (Manchester United) wins a free kick in the defensive half.

  16. Post update

    Foul by Ryan Fredericks (West Ham United).

  17. Post update

    Second Half Extra Time begins Manchester United 1, West Ham United 0.

  18. Post update

    First Half Extra Time ends, Manchester United 1, West Ham United 0.

  19. Post update

    Foul by Brandon Williams (Manchester United).

  20. Post update

    Ben Johnson (West Ham United) wins a free kick in the attacking half.

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