Paul Walsh told Soccer Saturday that West Ham were full value for their win over Manchester United.
West Ham 2-1 Man United
Soccer Saturday reaction
Paul Walsh watched West Ham make it three wins from three against Manchester United - and insisted they were well worth it.
Two headers from set pieces from centre-backs Anton Ferdinand and Matthew Upson saw Alan Curbishley's side end the year in style at Upton Park.
They had fallen behind to another Christiano Ronaldo goal early on, but when Man United's man of the moment missed a penalty at 1-1, the Hammers held on to their lead.
"Over the 90 minutes, the way they played, you would have to say West Ham deserved it," Walsh told
Soccer Saturday.
"They had a lot of possession and their formation seemed to work well. They had the back four with Hayden Mullins and Scott Parker in front of them, three across the midfield in Solano, Noble and Ljungberg with Carlton Cole up the middle, but they were prepared to get men forward - and when it broke down they got back very quickly.
"West Ham controlled the ball in the main and Man United were disappointing in as much as they didn't get on it as much as you'd expect them to."
A Mullins effort that hit the woodwork aside, the Hammers created little before the break.
But crucially it was Mark Noble's delivery from set pieces and the aerial threat of Ferdinand and then Upson that proved the difference.
A magnanimous Sir Alex Ferguson agreed that the better side won, but Walsh felt that the United boss will be far from happy with the way his side defended when he sees the game again.
"West Ham were a threat from set places and they did look dangerous," he said.
"For the first goal, it was a Mark Noble corner and Anton Ferdinand got up between two players and put in a good header.
"But you would fancy Rio Ferdinand and Nemanja Vidic in those situations and for much of the game they controlled everything West Ham had to throw at them - apart from that one instance.
"And then there was a repeat performance. The ball in from the right-hand side from Noble, but this time it was Upson, who had hung out a bit, who got a run on Vidic and Ferdinand and put a great header into the far corner to put them 2-1 up."
