11 Mar 2018

United win, West Ham in hot water

7:10 am on 11 March 2018

Marcus Rashford struck twice as Manchester United won the 200th North West derby with a 2-1 Premier League victory over Liverpool at Old Trafford to open up a five point gap on their third-placed rivals.

Manchester United forward Marcus Rashford.

Manchester United forward Marcus Rashford. Photo: PHOTOSPORT

United survived a frantic final 10 minutes after a bizarre own goal from defender Eric Bailly had given Liverpool a route back into the game but Juergen Klopp's attack, so effective through this season, were unable to carve any clear openings.

Any fears that United manager Jose Mourinho would park the bus, as he did in the goalless reverse fixture, were eased by the team selection which led to an attacking formation despite the absence of French midfielder Paul Pogba. He was ruled out after picking up an injury in training.

Rashford had not started in 2018 and had only made five substitute appearances but he was to be the central figure in this encounter, which had all the adrenalin, aggression and endeavour associated with one of English football's mostly hotly contested rivalries.

Meanwhile West Ham United could face serious repercussions after several pitch invasions and ugly scenes in the stands during the second half of a crushing 3-0 home Premier League defeat by Burnley.

West Ham dominated the first half in which Burnley's keeper Nick Pope made several fine saves but everything turned sour at the London Stadium after the break.

Ashley Barnes fired Burnley ahead in the 66th minute, prompting one fan to run on to the pitch where he grappled with West Ham skipper Mark Noble.

If that was not bad enough New Zealand's Chris Wood doubled Burnley's lead minutes later and this time there were scuffles in the stands and one fan ran on and took the corner flag, attempting to plant it on the centre spot.

Wood made it 3-0 after a bad mistake by England keeper Joe Hart to seal a fourth defeat in five games for David Moyes's team. By that stage the action on the pitch had become almost incidental with chaotic scenes all around.

A group of fans began to taunt West Ham's owners David Gold and David Sullivan in the directors' box and they were escorted away before the final whistle for their own safety.

Some young West Ham fans were even allowed to sit on the Burnley bench as things threatened to turn ugly.

Defeat left West Ham in 16th place, three points above the relegation zone and facing a crucial clash with 17th placed Southampton at the London Stadium next.

"Up until the goal you wouldn't have thought that it would have been such a bad day," Moyes said.

"We had played well enough to be in front but the first goal quickly altered things.

"Since I've been here (the fans) have been really good. But you can't cross the line and come on the pitch. A lot of my players did well with the way they acted."

-Reuters