West Ham United earned their first win in the Premier League since February after beating Manchester United 2-0 on Sunday.

Tomas Soucek opened the scoring in the 26th minute at Old Trafford, flicking in Mohammed Kudus’ low pass to net his ninth goal of the season.

Kudus continued to provide the spark for the Hammers with a series of half-chances before Jarrod Bowen doubled their lead midway through the second half, finishing a similar chance from a low centre inside the box.

United pushed hard for a late goal to give their fans something to cheer about, with Rasmus Hojlund coming close several times but failing to find the finishing touch.

It's now nine Premier League defeats at home for United this season, which hasn't happened to them since 1962, while it is West Ham's first top-flight victory at Old Trafford since May 2007 and their first double over the Red Devils since that same campaign of 2006/07.

The win moves West Ham up to 15th in the table, with United slipping to 16th, just one point behind with two matches left to play.

How the match unfolded

It was a balanced start, with Bruno Fernandes spraying an early bending shot over the bar before Max Kilman responded in kind with a powerful header just over Altay Bayindir’s goal.

Moments later, Amad forced a sensational stop from Alphonse Areola with a powerful strike after cutting in from the right, though Fernandes was once again wasteful with the rebound.

Soucek then broke the deadlock before the half-hour mark, bundling in Kudus’ low centre and the Ghana international could well have added a second, but sliced a shot over the bar.

West Ham raced out of the blocks in the second half, with Bowen doubling their lead in the 57th minute. Aaron Wan-Bissaka’s squared pass inside the box left little for the Hammers captain to do but calmly slot home from close range.

Alejandro Garnacho injected some life into the hosts’ attack, firing into the side netting before a series of half-chances saw United come close.

Hojlund alone squandered several clear-cut chances late on, while Bayindir denied James Ward-Prowse with a proactive reflex stop to keep United’s deficit at two.

A tough day for Man Utd

Ruben Amorim’s side rallied well against Brentford last time out, battling back from 4-1 down to nearly secure a draw, though they fell just short.

That display, coupled with their demolition job of Athletic Bilbao in the UEFA Europa League to reach the final, would certainly have inspired some confidence from the Old Trafford faithful in what has been a disappointing domestic campaign for the Red Devils, who are now winless in their last seven Premier League matches.

After Fernandes and Amad came close with teasing shots, Mason Mount played a perfect through-ball to send Hojlund through on goal, though the Dane could only drag his shot wide.

Wastefulness in front of goal characterised a frustrating United performance as Hojlund failed to find the target in the second half too, nodding wide off Fernandes’ cross, before failing to beat Areola off Amad’s delivery.

Hojlund was also denied late on as Fernandes’ cross was directed to him in the box, and Areola denied him from point-blank range, though Bayindir did well to ensure West Ham did not add further gloss with a brilliant last-gasp save.

United will refocus now ahead of two blockbuster fixtures, first facing Chelsea in the Premier League before their Europa League final showdown with Tottenham Hotspur.

Kudus shines as Hammers pick up much-needed win

Graham Potter cut a frustrated figure as West Ham failed to hold onto their lead against Brighton & Hove Albion two weeks ago, though he might take some heart from their 1-1 draw with Tottenham Hotspur last time out.

It has been a forgettable season for the Hammers, who have often lacked a certain fluency in attack under Potter, though Sunday’s performance could do wonders to buck that trend.

Soucek’s opener put them in the driver’s seat after Kudus, who supplied the assist, saw two powerful efforts fall well off-target in the first half.

The Hammers had to dig deep and hold on late in the second half, though, as United ramped up the pressure in search of a goal.

But they did well and will rightly take a confidence-boosting three points ahead of their last home match of the season against Nottingham Forest next time out.

Match reports

Man Utd report | West Ham report

Match officials

Referee: Jarred Gillett. Assistants: Neil Davies, Derek Eaton. Fourth official: Adam Herczeg. VAR: Andy Madley. Assistant VAR: Craig Taylor.