West Ham United 0-2 Manchester United: Player ratings

David de Gea 7

Despite West Ham enjoying quite a bit of pressure around the United box in the first half, de Gea didn't have too much to do. But when he did, he was good, as per usual.

Alexander Büttner 6

There are always a few gulps when Büttner is on the teamsheet, though he coped fine today. We didn't get to see any of his amusing mazy dribbles (which usually somehow involve the ball bouncing fortuitously off each defender he runs against), but he was defensively fine.

Phil Jones 7

It was a good defensive performance from Jones, who coped well with the physicality of West Ham's threat.

Michael Carrick 7

Likewise Carrick, who looked as solid at centre-back as Nemanja Vidić and Rio Ferdinand have been lately. He kept the ball circulating quickly from the back, in what was a pretty good display. Though no, he'll never be the new Paolo Maldini.

Rafael 6

It wasn't quite as spectacular a performance as we've become accustomed to from Rafael, who surprisingly let Stewart Downing get the better of him a couple of times in a shaky opening few minutes. But gradually he looked more solid, and was soon back on top.

Marouane Fellaini 7

More energetic excellence from Fellaini in breaking forward to supplement attacks. However, perhaps his most important contributions when he stuck the boot in defensively, helping to break up any West Ham counters. Undoubtedly United's best midfielder at present.

Darren Fletcher 6

With Carrick pushed back into defence, Fletcher was in the Carrick role, sitting deep and allowing Fellaini to break forward with more freedom. He was typically solid, linking the play without producing anything spectacular.

Shinji Kagawa 6

It was a frustrating performance from Kagawa, whose positional play on the counter-attack was excellent, drifting into space and helping United's quick transitions. However, the end product was often disappointing, and he squandered a couple of good chances.

Juan Mata 7

Mata was a constant thorn in West Ham's side, particularly throughout the first half. Not everything he tried came off, but his excellent movement and constant creativity was a significant factor in United's dangerous counter-attacks.

Ashley Young 6

It was pretty much the perfect kind of match for Young, with United often counter-attacking and looking to stretch the play with pace. He didn't produce the goods consistently, though occasionally caused West Ham problems down the right and played a tenuous part in the second goal.

Wayne Rooney 8

It was one of Rooney's best performances in a while, excelling as the out-and-out centre-forward in van Persie's absence. While his spectacular once-or-twice-in-a-career opener and hugely fortuitous second may make his performance stand out more than his all-round play warranted, he still excelled drifting across the field on the counter, and playing incisive passes into runners from deep. The future may well be pushing Rooney forward, rather than backwards.