When the final whistle finally sounded, David de Gea was mobbed by his team-mates, with Diogo Dalot putting him in a headlock and Lisandro Martinez riding on his back. The Manchester United goalkeeper was taking the plaudits and deserved them, but was just one part of a backs-to-the-wall team performance that had eventually beaten a spirited West Ham United.
Marcus Rashford’s emphatic header in the first half – his 100th United goal – established the lead and a collective rearguard action in the second just about protected it.
