Manchester United against West Ham United

Cole crosses, and there's momentary confusion inside the United area before Barthez emerges with the ball

It's an uncharacteristically wild effort from the England skipper, landing somewhere in the middle of the Stretford End

Good play by Neville, who surges into the area from the right and cuts the ball back to Beckham, 18 yards out...

Steve Lomas comes off and John Moncur goes on as West Ham make a switch. Not that that will make any difference to what has really been a bit of a procession this afternoon

A rebound inside the United area - Defoe looks to latch onto it but, not for the first time, he's caught offside

Lomas is there to clear for West Ham, but again they can't keep the ball even when they win it

Beckham on the right... Brown found him, Minto fouled him. Free-kick to United, which Beckham will mastermind

Another ball forward by the Hammers - it's aimless, and Barthez plucks it out of the air with studied nonchalance

It's a good stop by James, and the home side have the ball again with Beckham

Forward come United, and Forlan has a shooting chance here...

He wins a corner, which is swung in and cleared despite some hesitation from Barthez

Nearly a consolation - and here come West Ham again with Carrick on the left...

Good Hammers move - there's a low cross from the left which comes off Brown and forces a good save from Barthez

Repka gets to a cross ahead of van Nistelrooy, and James has to stretch to avoid that being another own goal. At the other end, Defoe hits an effort wide after making space for himself

Defoe attempts to cut the ball back for West Ham - Phil Neville is there to tidy up inside the penalty area

Forlan, with a clever turn and chance, makes a chance for van Nistelrooy... he hits it from 16 yards but drags it wide. Maybe it's not to be his day today

At the other end, Lomas crosses and Wes Brown is there with an excellent interception. Changes - Scholes and O'Shea off, Forlan and Blanc on

Beckham tangles with Dailly on the edge of the area and tumbles to the ground... no free-kick, says the referee

Forlan and Laurent Blanc are readying themselves to come on for the home side...

Carrick and Cole lead an attempted West Ham break... Defoe flicks on, United clear

Carrick takes a free-kick for the Hammers - Lomas gets a header, but it's harmlessly over the crossbar. Still no work for Barthez to do...

Dailly clears, Neville plays it back but the offside flag goes up

Apologies if this is sounding predictable, but that's simply because it is... O'Shea wins a corner off Repka...

...but it seems as though there'll be no immediate change. Meantime, another Hammers move, another breakdown

Diego Forlan could be the next player to have a go at the Hammers' uncertain defence - he's warming up on the touchline now...

Sinclair fouls Beckham in midfield, and that's a United free-kick

Giggs crosses after another flash of Fred Astaire-style footwork... Scholes shoots and it goes wide of the mark

This really has been the bleakest of seasons for the Londoners, and their wafer-thin confidence is all too apparent

James launches the ball long downfield, but there's really an air of desperation about West Ham now

Pearce gets into the area - but his attempted lay-off is dreadful and Beckham, working hard, is back to dispossess him

And that's an accurate reflection of the home side's control. Seems like simply a question of how many now

It's a great move, and Neville's low cross eludes van Nistelrooy but flies in off the unlucky Schemmel. The move deserved a goal - it got one, and it's 3-0!

More good United play - Beckham and Gary Neville combine to get some sweet, flowing passing under way once again

Giggs on the left - United utterly dominant without even having to force the pace to any great extent. This is easy, and West Ham surely won't get back into it

Giggs races into the area - Minto makes a great challenge to stop him but the build-up, featuring Scholes, was very easy on the eye

Sinclair plays a loose pass in midfield - Cole gets it back, but again there's a fragility about West Ham's passing as another move breaks down

James denies him once again, and Giggs sees his effort from the rebound blocked

Rather low-key in this second half - but here goes van Nistelrooy, charging into the area...

Pearce chases a ball forward, but it's all in vain - that one eludes him and skips out for a United throw

Giggs tries to feed the ball into the area, but he doesn't quite get it right and James can gather safely

Scholes plays a fine first-time ball down the right for van Nistelrooy, who wins a throw

Veron tries to charge into the area, but is crowded out and then lunges in on Repka. Free-kick to West Ham

Great work by Giggs: Schemmel makes a good challenge to concede a corner...

West Ham clear, but Veron and Gary Neville combine before the ball is hacked away once more

...and United have a dangerous free-kick of their own, which Beckham will take

O'Shea comes forward - he's being tracked back by Defoe, of all people. The Hammers striker commits a foul...

Carrick rolls it square to Cole outside the area - he hits a shot, but it's wayward and high over the top

This, though, is better from the Hammers: Cole moves forward again and is fouled by Phil Neville. Free-kick to the Hammers, and this one can be crossed in...

Lomas chases a ball down the touchline - Silvestre deals with that in a very assured way

It zips across the area, but no West Ham player is able to get the crucial touch

Handball against Beckham inside the West Ham half. 'There's only one Road Stewart' was the chant last time out... Cole crosses dangerously...

Spooky, isn't it?... normal service resumes soon afterwards as the Hammers striker chases a long ball forward and the flag goes up

Defoe makes West Ham's first foray forward of the half - the flag is up, and this time the decision is actually correct

Second half change for United - David Beckham, complete with extravagent hairdo - is on for Solskjaer

The half-time whistle goes - Sir Alex Ferguson will be more than happy with events so far. His side lead 2-0 and are comfortably in command here

Into stoppage time at the end of the first period and, barring some second half tales of the unexpected, it's already looking like another United victory

He crosses, but nobody can get on the end of it and West Ham get that one away

How crucial will it turn out to be? A minute or so of normal time remaining in this first half as O'Shea - so heavily involved a moment ago - comes forward on the left...

Roeder and his side can be thoroughly justified in feeling robbed of a route back into the game by that decision

And that's the wrong decision - it seemed that John O'Shea was playing the West Ham striker onside

...the ball falls to Defoe, who thrashes it high into the net. The flag, however, is up

Wait a minute though - some pinball going on inside the United penalty area...

Five minutes remaining until the break, and it has to be said that this is all proving very easy for resurgent United

A rare moment of attacking intent from Roeder's strugglers, but still no work for Barthez to do. He's having a thoroughly lazy Saturday lunchtime

He tries his luck, but the effort's not pretty - it flies high and over. The Stretford End give that one the full ironic cheer treatment

West Ham move forward and Dailly, so comprehensively flummoxed by van Nistelrooy earlier, has the ball...

But the keeper makes a fine save, blocking van Nistelrooy's low drive with his legs. That had looked certain to be 3-0...

Skill and strength see off the challenge of Dailly and leave the in-form van Nistelrooy with just David James to beat...

The ball is played forward towards van Nistelrooy, who takes it under control...

The move breaks down, but Veron has the ball back again and gets another move under way

Here come United again - the Hammers on the retreat

Carrick joins forces with Minto, who crosses towards Defoe - the underworked United defence get it absolutely right to clear the danger

But it seems to have boosted his side - here they come again...

And Sinclair meets it with an overhead kick that doesn't really go according to plan

Free-kick to the Hammers - potential crossing position here. Carrick takes it...

Sir Alex Ferguson's side are knocking the ball around with confidence, just keeping it from their opponents

And they won't fo it that way - an aimless ball forward is easy for the United back line to deal with

Sinclair is unable to keep the ball as the visitors look to launch a rare attack. They have yet to create any danger to Barthez' goal

A demoralised look has come over the Hammers - this is all too familiar to them

Van Nistelrooy is in, and duly puts the ball past James, but the flag is up and it won't count

More superb, high-speed interplay from the home side - Scholes and Giggs link...

It's just too high for the Dutch striker, however, and the Hammers survive another scare

Neville's turn to come forward for United: he crosses towards van Nistelrooy...

West Ham can't get the ball - and when they do, they are struggling to keep it

Another fine move - this time it's Scholes who is just unable to make anything of it

Giggs gets on the end of a typically sharp move, but is just unable to get the ball across

Two quickfire goals, and United are starting to carve through the visiting defence with some superb passing

Even more delight now - Juan Sebastian Veron underlines his recent fine form by curling home a superb free-kick. It's 2-0 - and in some style!

The unlucky Repka makes a lunging challenge on van Nistelrooy: he'll get a yellow card for that, much to the delight of the home faithful

The breakthrough United were searching for - a touch of luck about it, but they won't mind that

And Ole Gunnar Solskjaer meets it with a header which appears to come off Repka before beating James. It's 1-0 United!

The pressure on Roeder's side continues, however... here comes another cross into the area...

Giggs takes, and James deals with the danger well - good goalkeeping

Forward come the home side again, and this raid results in a corner...

O'Shea crosses, and Minto is there to get the ball away with van Nistelrooy lurking

West Ham will be pretty happy with their start: United have yet to hit any real rhythm in their passing

But he experiences the same problem as Cole - the ball picks up speed off the wet surface and eludes its intended target

O'Shea has possession for United, and tries to get things moving forward...

Encouraging moments for the visitors - Cole is involved and tries to find Lomas in space, but the pass has too much pace for the Irishman

Ian Pearce looks to get on the end of a ball forward, but the flag is up against the makeshift striker

Manager Glenn Roeder looking on anxiously - his side came so close to an away win at Middlesbrough last week...

He whips in a good cross, but Schemmel is there to clear West Ham's lines

Slick passing from the home side - they zip through the Hammers ranks and find Solskjaer...

The home side, though, are soon forced back into their own half - O'Shea is on hand to take control of the situation

West Ham under early pressure - a fired-up United move forward to win a quick throw...

Manchester United look to continue their fine form and join Arsenal at the top of the Premiership table for a few hours at least. The Hammers are just hoping. Join the action from 12.15 GMT

Forlan, with a clever turn and chance, makes a chance for van Nistelrooy... he hits it from 16 yards but drags it wide. Maybe it's not to be his day today

At the other end, Lomas crosses and Wes Brown is there with an excellent interception. Changes - Scholes and O'Shea off, Forlan and Blanc on

Beckham tangles with Dailly on the edge of the area and tumbles to the ground... no free-kick, says the referee

Forlan and Laurent Blanc are readying themselves to come on for the home side...

Carrick and Cole lead an attempted West Ham break... Defoe flicks on, United clear

Carrick takes a free-kick for the Hammers - Lomas gets a header, but it's harmlessly over the crossbar. Still no work for Barthez to do...

Dailly clears, Neville plays it back but the offside flag goes up

Apologies if this is sounding predictable, but that's simply because it is... O'Shea wins a corner off Repka...

...but it seems as though there'll be no immediate change. Meantime, another Hammers move, another breakdown

Diego Forlan could be the next player to have a go at the Hammers' uncertain defence - he's warming up on the touchline now...

Sinclair fouls Beckham in midfield, and that's a United free-kick

Giggs crosses after another flash of Fred Astaire-style footwork... Scholes shoots and it goes wide of the mark

This really has been the bleakest of seasons for the Londoners, and their wafer-thin confidence is all too apparent

James launches the ball long downfield, but there's really an air of desperation about West Ham now

Pearce gets into the area - but his attempted lay-off is dreadful and Beckham, working hard, is back to dispossess him

And that's an accurate reflection of the home side's control. Seems like simply a question of how many now

It's a great move, and Neville's low cross eludes van Nistelrooy but flies in off the unlucky Schemmel. The move deserved a goal - it got one, and it's 3-0!

More good United play - Beckham and Gary Neville combine to get some sweet, flowing passing under way once again

Giggs on the left - United utterly dominant without even having to force the pace to any great extent. This is easy, and West Ham surely won't get back into it

Giggs races into the area - Minto makes a great challenge to stop him but the build-up, featuring Scholes, was very easy on the eye

Sinclair plays a loose pass in midfield - Cole gets it back, but again there's a fragility about West Ham's passing as another move breaks down

James denies him once again, and Giggs sees his effort from the rebound blocked

Rather low-key in this second half - but here goes van Nistelrooy, charging into the area...

Pearce chases a ball forward, but it's all in vain - that one eludes him and skips out for a United throw

Giggs tries to feed the ball into the area, but he doesn't quite get it right and James can gather safely

Scholes plays a fine first-time ball down the right for van Nistelrooy, who wins a throw

Veron tries to charge into the area, but is crowded out and then lunges in on Repka. Free-kick to West Ham

Great work by Giggs: Schemmel makes a good challenge to concede a corner...

West Ham clear, but Veron and Gary Neville combine before the ball is hacked away once more

...and United have a dangerous free-kick of their own, which Beckham will take

O'Shea comes forward - he's being tracked back by Defoe, of all people. The Hammers striker commits a foul...

Carrick rolls it square to Cole outside the area - he hits a shot, but it's wayward and high over the top

This, though, is better from the Hammers: Cole moves forward again and is fouled by Phil Neville. Free-kick to the Hammers, and this one can be crossed in...

Lomas chases a ball down the touchline - Silvestre deals with that in a very assured way

It zips across the area, but no West Ham player is able to get the crucial touch

Handball against Beckham inside the West Ham half. 'There's only one Road Stewart' was the chant last time out... Cole crosses dangerously...

Spooky, isn't it?... normal service resumes soon afterwards as the Hammers striker chases a long ball forward and the flag goes up

Defoe makes West Ham's first foray forward of the half - the flag is up, and this time the decision is actually correct

Second half change for United - David Beckham, complete with extravagent hairdo - is on for Solskjaer

The half-time whistle goes - Sir Alex Ferguson will be more than happy with events so far. His side lead 2-0 and are comfortably in command here

Into stoppage time at the end of the first period and, barring some second half tales of the unexpected, it's already looking like another United victory

He crosses, but nobody can get on the end of it and West Ham get that one away

How crucial will it turn out to be? A minute or so of normal time remaining in this first half as O'Shea - so heavily involved a moment ago - comes forward on the left...

Roeder and his side can be thoroughly justified in feeling robbed of a route back into the game by that decision

And that's the wrong decision - it seemed that John O'Shea was playing the West Ham striker onside

...the ball falls to Defoe, who thrashes it high into the net. The flag, however, is up

Wait a minute though - some pinball going on inside the United penalty area...

Five minutes remaining until the break, and it has to be said that this is all proving very easy for resurgent United

A rare moment of attacking intent from Roeder's strugglers, but still no work for Barthez to do. He's having a thoroughly lazy Saturday lunchtime

He tries his luck, but the effort's not pretty - it flies high and over. The Stretford End give that one the full ironic cheer treatment

West Ham move forward and Dailly, so comprehensively flummoxed by van Nistelrooy earlier, has the ball...

But the keeper makes a fine save, blocking van Nistelrooy's low drive with his legs. That had looked certain to be 3-0...

Skill and strength see off the challenge of Dailly and leave the in-form van Nistelrooy with just David James to beat...

The ball is played forward towards van Nistelrooy, who takes it under control...

The move breaks down, but Veron has the ball back again and gets another move under way

Here come United again - the Hammers on the retreat

Carrick joins forces with Minto, who crosses towards Defoe - the underworked United defence get it absolutely right to clear the danger

But it seems to have boosted his side - here they come again...

And Sinclair meets it with an overhead kick that doesn't really go according to plan

Free-kick to the Hammers - potential crossing position here. Carrick takes it...

Sir Alex Ferguson's side are knocking the ball around with confidence, just keeping it from their opponents

And they won't fo it that way - an aimless ball forward is easy for the United back line to deal with

Sinclair is unable to keep the ball as the visitors look to launch a rare attack. They have yet to create any danger to Barthez' goal

A demoralised look has come over the Hammers - this is all too familiar to them

Van Nistelrooy is in, and duly puts the ball past James, but the flag is up and it won't count

More superb, high-speed interplay from the home side - Scholes and Giggs link...

It's just too high for the Dutch striker, however, and the Hammers survive another scare

Neville's turn to come forward for United: he crosses towards van Nistelrooy...

West Ham can't get the ball - and when they do, they are struggling to keep it

Another fine move - this time it's Scholes who is just unable to make anything of it

Giggs gets on the end of a typically sharp move, but is just unable to get the ball across

Two quickfire goals, and United are starting to carve through the visiting defence with some superb passing

Even more delight now - Juan Sebastian Veron underlines his recent fine form by curling home a superb free-kick. It's 2-0 - and in some style!

The unlucky Repka makes a lunging challenge on van Nistelrooy: he'll get a yellow card for that, much to the delight of the home faithful

The breakthrough United were searching for - a touch of luck about it, but they won't mind that

And Ole Gunnar Solskjaer meets it with a header which appears to come off Repka before beating James. It's 1-0 United!

The pressure on Roeder's side continues, however... here comes another cross into the area...

Giggs takes, and James deals with the danger well - good goalkeeping

Forward come the home side again, and this raid results in a corner...

O'Shea crosses, and Minto is there to get the ball away with van Nistelrooy lurking

West Ham will be pretty happy with their start: United have yet to hit any real rhythm in their passing

But he experiences the same problem as Cole - the ball picks up speed off the wet surface and eludes its intended target

O'Shea has possession for United, and tries to get things moving forward...

Encouraging moments for the visitors - Cole is involved and tries to find Lomas in space, but the pass has too much pace for the Irishman

Ian Pearce looks to get on the end of a ball forward, but the flag is up against the makeshift striker

Manager Glenn Roeder looking on anxiously - his side came so close to an away win at Middlesbrough last week...

He whips in a good cross, but Schemmel is there to clear West Ham's lines

Slick passing from the home side - they zip through the Hammers ranks and find Solskjaer...

The home side, though, are soon forced back into their own half - O'Shea is on hand to take control of the situation

West Ham under early pressure - a fired-up United move forward to win a quick throw...

Manchester United look to continue their fine form and join Arsenal at the top of the Premiership table for a few hours at least. The Hammers are just hoping. Join the action from 12.15 GMT