West Ham United defender Aaron Cresswell believes David de Gea was the difference between the two sides as the Hammers failed to take anything from their clash with Manchester United on Sunday.
Marcus Rashford, fresh from stepping off the bench and scoring the Reds’ second goal in their 3-0 Europa League win over Sheriff Tiraspol on Thursday evening, netted the only goal of the game, powering home a first-half header from an outstanding Christian Eriksen cross. The academy graduate rose highest to head the ball home, netting the 100th senior goal of his Reds career.
Despite making the all-important breakthrough shortly before half-time, United failed to kick on in the second half, being forced to withstand several waves of West Ham pressure. The Londoners turned the screw as the second half wore on and would have drawn level had it not been for the heroics of De Gea between the sticks.
The United shot-stopper produced a series of fine saves, the best of which saw him keep out both Kurt Zouma and Declan Rice. Had it not been for him, United would have been forced to settle for a point, or maybe even less.
And for Cresswell, who has been on the Hammers’ books since 2014, the Londoners deserved something from the game, mirroring the thoughts of his manager, David Moyes.
“We are really disappointed that we haven’t got anything from the game but it is just frustrating more than anything,” Cresswell told Sky Sports. “I think that is the only word I can come up with with the chances we created.
“Coming to Old Trafford, it is never an easy place to come and I thought we dominated spells in the game. Of course they scored a good goal in the first half which gave us a reaction and then in the last 20 minutes I don’t know how we haven’t scored off them [chances].”
When asked whether De Gea was the difference between the two sides, Cresswell continued: “Yeah, he has made some unbelievable saves. On another day they go in. He has made three or four great saves.
“But from our point of view, it is frustrating that we haven’t taken anything from the game. We have just spoken inside the dressing room, saying that it feels like the worst-case scenario, because we should have definitely taken something.”