EDITORIALS

Westham United Vs Manchester United Preview

From Doubt to Drive: United’s Run Faces West Ham Test

tunde ajibade February 10, 2026 0
Westham United Vs Manchester United Preview
Westham United Vs Manchester United Preview

Westham United Vs Manchester United Preview

By: Babatunde Ajibade (Manchester United correspondent)

Facebook: Babatunde Olatunji Ajibade    Twitter: ollyzjinx01          Instagram: sir_ajirowo01

 

Four wins in a row. Somebody please wake me up — this feels like a wonderland. Amorim said it was impossible, but Carrick is basically saying this is just the bare minimum for a club the size of Manchester United. Honestly, it might be time to cut that guy’s hair.

 

United head to London on Tuesday night to face West Ham United at the London Stadium, coming off an impressive 2–0 win over Tottenham Hotspur at Old Trafford. Goals from Bryan Mbeumo and Bruno Fernandes sent the home fans into full euphoria — that feeling of excitement, that hunger for the next match, was something that had been missing under the previous manager.

 

The jury is still out on who the next permanent manager will be. The board say they are still searching, but let’s be honest — everyone knows they’re waiting for Enrique. Still, the way Carrick is going, the fans want him. If he steadies the ship and secures a Champions League place, I might just throw my hat in for him too.

 

Let’s face it: since Sir Alex retired, we’ve tried everything — different managers, different philosophies — and what have we really had? The same ups and downs. If recruitment can continue identifying the right players — not just bodies, but players who actually improve the team even if another manager comes in, like they did last summer — why can’t Carrick succeed? That’s just my opinion. What’s yours?

 

The London Stadium hosts a fascinating Premier League clash on Tuesday night as two rejuvenated sides lock horns, with West Ham United welcoming Manchester United to the capital.

 

The Hammers are chasing a fifth win in six games after Saturday’s 2–0 victory over Burnley, while the Red Devils arrive in high spirits after dispatching 10-man Tottenham by the same scoreline. Once again helped by a familiar red card to Spurs captain Cristian Romero, Carrick’s revival continued as United maintained their grip on fourth place in style.

 

Not only do United remain ahead of Chelsea and Liverpool in the race for fourth, they’ve also closed the gap on third-placed Aston Villa to just three points. Champions League football is firmly in their hands.

 

Carrick continues to build a strong case for the permanent job. United have scored at least twice in every match under his guidance, extending an impressive attacking run. The Red Devils have now found the net in each of their last 14 games in all competitions, last failing to score back in November against Everton. Away from home, they’ve lost just one of their last nine matches.

 

Manchester United are favourites heading into this clash, winning 47% of pre-match simulations according to the Opta supercomputer. However, recent history against West Ham is less comforting — United have lost four of their last six league games against the Hammers, more than in their previous 28 combined.

 

Bruno Fernandes continues to shine on the road, having been involved in 10 goals in his last eight away Premier League appearances (two goals, eight assists).

 

Michael Carrick, who came through West Ham’s academy and made 136 appearances for the club before spells at Tottenham and Manchester United, returns south having made an impressive start to his second stint in charge, winning his first four league games and lifting United into the top four.

 

West Ham also have reasons to feel confident. They did the double over United last season and earned a 1–1 draw at Old Trafford earlier this campaign, with Soungoutou Magassa scoring a late equaliser on December 4.

 

Like United, West Ham have turned their season around. They’ve taken nine points from the last 12 available, most recently boosting their survival hopes with a 2–0 win at Burnley. That victory came as a welcome response to a painful defeat against Chelsea the previous week. Nuno Espírito Santo’s side currently sit 18th, just three points behind Nottingham Forest.

 

January wins over QPR, Sunderland and Tottenham mean West Ham have now won four of their last five matches — more than they managed in their first 22 games of the season. That said, home form remains a concern. The Hammers have won just one of their last 16 home league matches against teams who played in the Premier League the previous season.

 

Still, United won’t overlook the danger. They’ve lost on each of their last three visits to the London Stadium, and Jarrod Bowen remains a key threat, having scored three goals in his last five league appearances against United — no West Ham player has scored more against them in Premier League history.

 

West Ham have shown real fight recently, winning three of their last four league games, as many as they had in their previous 21. Their latest win at Burnley saw Crysencio Summerville score for a fifth consecutive game in all competitions, while Valentín Castellanos netted his first Premier League goal for the club. The Hammers go into Matchday 26 just three points from safety.

West Ham are a tough team when they find form — even a little form. United need this win to stay firmly in the top-four race. What do you think?

Comment below with your score predictions!

Manchester United record against Westham:

Games won:

74

Games drawn:

33

Games lost:

50

 

 

 

Team News:

(As of today 09/02/2026)

Westham United: Santo, Jean-Clair Todibo and Lukasz Fabianski are out.

Manchester United: De ligt, Mount and Dorgu are out

Prediction:
A clean sheet was badly needed in the last match, and getting one — even with the red card — will do the defence a world of good mentally. I believe United can cross this bridge. It won’t be easy, but Carrick’s men are playing without fear right now, shown by the sharp, one-touch combinations in the final third.

Westham United 1-3 Manchester United

 

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Manchester United record against Westham: Games won: 74 Games drawn: 33 Games lost: 50       Team News: (As of today 09/02/2026) Westham United: Santo, Jean-Clair Todibo and Lukasz Fabianski are out. Manchester United: De ligt, Mount and Dorgu are out Prediction: A clean sheet was badly needed in the last match, and getting one — even with the red card — will do the defence a world of good mentally. I believe United can cross this bridge. It won’t be easy, but Carrick’s men are playing without fear right now, shown by the sharp, one-touch combinations in the final third. Westham United 1-3 Manchester United  

tunde ajibade February 9, 2026 0
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tunde ajibade January 16, 2026 0
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manutd vs bournemouth
Can Manchester United Finally Break Bournemouth’s Hold?

Manchester United Vs AFC Bournemouth Preview By: Babatunde Ajibade (Manchester United correspondent) Facebook: Babatunde Olatunji Ajibade    Twitter: ollyzjinx01          Instagram: sir_ajirowo01   After a convincing 4–1 second-half demolition of Wolves last week, Manchester United returns to Old Trafford to face Bournemouth. A ground that, sadly, hasn’t exactly been a fortress lately. In fact, Bournemouth have come here in the last two seasons and left with comfortable 3–0 wins. That alone tells you how big a test this is for the Red Devils if European qualification is still the target.   Away from the pitch, there’s been noise again. This time involving club legends. Reports suggest some players are unhappy with the constant criticism from the Class of ’92, particularly Paul Scholes, whose blunt analysis on national TV hasn’t gone down well. The players feel this is a different era and that the criticism is hurting morale, especially at Old Trafford. But honestly, I don’t fully buy that excuse. Scholes hasn’t said anything outrageous. His main point is simple: this team lacks belief and a killer instinct. And he’s right. Teams come to Old Trafford now believing they can win something, which should never be the case. So, the real question is: Is Scholes being harsh, or do these players just lack a winning mentality?   On the pitch, United once again followed a familiar script against Wolves. A flat, disappointing first half that ended 1–1, followed by a much stronger second-half response. Goals from Mbeumo, Mount, and a Fernandes penalty sealed a 4–1 win, but it shouldn’t take 45 minutes of suffering before this team wakes up. Now attention turns to this crucial fixture, the last one before United’s African players head off for AFCON.   United have now lost just one of their last nine Premier League games (W5 D3), with that lone defeat coming at home to Everton under the Monday night lights. More importantly, they’ve taken 18 points from those nine games, more than they managed in the previous 17 combined. That run has lifted them to sixth place, just one point off the top four. Progress? Yes. Convincing? Not entirely.   Bruno Fernandes has been central to that improvement. The captain has been involved in eight goals in his last eight league games, scoring twice and assisting six. Against Wolves, he both scored and assisted for the 16th time in a Premier League match — a stat only bettered at United by Rooney, Giggs, and Beckham. That said, the other end of the pitch remains a problem. United have kept just one clean sheet in 15 league games this season. Only Wolves have fewer, and they’re at the bottom. Under Amorim, United have managed just six clean sheets in 42 matches. That’s not a short-term issue; it’s a long-standing one.   Amorim hopes this is the game to improve defensively, especially with Bournemouth failing to score in their last two league matches. The Cherries haven’t gone three games without a goal since the end of the 2022–23 season. Still, Bournemouth’s problems go beyond finishing. They’ve created very little lately, just 18 shots across their last two matches compared to 46 in the two before that. Unsurprisingly, they’re now six games without a league win.   Antoine Semenyo could be key if they’re to turn things around. He started the season on fire with six goals in seven games, but he hasn’t scored in his last seven league appearances. That said, Bournemouth will come with confidence. They’ve beaten United 3–0 at Old Trafford in back-to-back seasons, something no one would have believed a few years ago. Last December, goals from Huijsen, Kluivert, and Semenyo sealed another embarrassing home defeat for United.   United’s first-half performance against Wolves nearly proved my point from last week all over again. Fans were already joking that I’d “jinxed” them by predicting a draw. Which brings me back to the same question: Would you honestly take a 1–1 draw against this out-of-form Bournemouth side? Because I wouldn’t. And if that happens, my stance remains the same — this manager has to go. That’s my honest opinion. Drop your score predictions below! Manchester United record against Bournemouth: Games won: 14 Games drawn: 5 Games lost: 5     Team News: (As of today, 14/12/2025,) Manchester United: Benjamin Sesko, Harry Maguire and De Ligt are out for this game. Bournemouth: Milosavljevic, Ryan Christie and Ben Doak out.     Prediction: Opta’s supercomputer gives United a 48.8% chance of winning, but Bournemouth could make unwanted history by winning three straight league games at Old Trafford by three or more goals. For me, this won’t be pretty. The pressure is heavy, the boos have been loud in recent home games, and United have to take points before losing Mbeumo to AFCON. I see a narrow win — nothing more. Manchester United 1-0 Bournemouth        

tunde ajibade December 14, 2025 0
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