Man Utd boss Solskjær after West Ham win: 'Need to be more clinical.’

FT: Man Utd 1-0 West Ham

Man Utd beat west ham 1-0 [Getty]

A Craig Dawson own goal proved decisive as the defender found his own net after a Scott McTominay header.

Craig Dawson’s own goal gifts Red Devils win.

Ole Gunnar Solskjaer acknowledged that Manchester United didn’t start well in their Premier League match against West Ham United.

The Red Devils responded to Leicester City's win earlier on Sunday by seeing off West Ham at Old Trafford, thanks to a Craig Dawson own goal in the 53rd minute.

United failed to register a shot on target in the opening 45 minutes despite dominating the majority of play and had to work a way out to secure all three points in their quest to secure 2nd spot.

The east London club tried to get an equaliser, but just couldn’t get through goalkeeper Dean Henderson.

Solskjær Reacts: 'We earned the spaces'

Following the win, Solskjaer told BBC Sport that he was pleased they got the spaces to get through.

The United boss said: "It is always hard in the Premier League, but I felt we controlled the game quite well after the first 15 minutes. We didn't start well and couldn't find a red shirt but the attitude is always there.

“We built pressure and momentum and had enough chances in the end. We earned the spaces. We worked really hard from the front tirelessly. Spaces opened up and then we can see the quality in our players."

On Mason Greenwood, the Norwegian said: "He deserved a goal he was excellent tonight. He's getting there. He's growing and maturing all the time."

Asked about getting some injured players back this week, he replied: "We hope so, we hope to have Edinson [Cavani] and Anthony [Martial] available, maybe Paul [Pogba] and David [de Gea] is finished with quarantine. Not bad players!"

On registering another clean sheet, he answered: "It tells us we're a team that works for each other. It's never easy to earn a clean sheet. If you have clean sheets you have a good foundation. The front four worked so hard, they were dangerous and pressed really well."

Scott McTominay Reacts: "It's a pleasing win."

Scott McTominay, whose header was deflected into the goal by Dawson added: "It's a pleasing win. It was a difficult game. That's why they're so high up. It was a dfifficult win. We knew they might press to see if we're alive and awake, but we knew we would be in their half majority of the game. Bowen and Antonio got free a couple of times. A massive three points.

"That's the message in the warm up - big, fast starts. We have to show intention, that can take you a long way."

On facing AC Milan in the Europa League on Thursday, the Scotland international explained: "It will be tough. It's many years since I went there with Manchester United. It's a chance to take a big step forward in our season. They are a tough team, everyone saw they have real quality. It's not a time to approach it any other way than full throttle and as if it's the biggest game of our season - which it is."

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