West Ham 2-0 Man United: Erik ten Hag’s woes continue as second-half goals from Jarrod Bowen and Mohammed Kudus condemn struggling Red Devils to their EIGHTH defeat in the Premier League this season

It is completely unfair to highlight Manchester United's plethora of shortcomings on a day when West Ham executed their game plan to perfection here at the London Stadium.

That said, it is what it is. How long can this go on? How long can United stay this shabby? Terrible. Again. If you're going to lose, go down fighting, wave your arms and clench your fists.

Not like this. Pathetic, weak and miserable. Whatever Manchester United's approach, this isn't it. A club rich in tradition, full of historical successes, is on its knees.

From the attacking flair of George Best, Dennis Law, Ryan Giggs and Eric Cantona to this. Three hundred and eighty-one minutes without a goal, that's more than six hours of football. It is a painful thing not to preserve the club's legacy.

West Ham deserved their win here. They were well trained, well coached and had a plan. United were anything but. That is at Ten Hag.

United started the first half well, but quickly faded in the second half against West Ham

David Moyes celebrated a third successive win for West Ham at the London Stadium

Jarrod Bowen and Mohammed Kudus caused the damage, but that only tells half the story. This defeat, United's thirteenth in a chaotic season, was largely self-inflicted due to a lack of courage and skill in attack.

With Aston Villa next, United will fear the worst. Ten Hag can point to extenuating circumstances; youth player Willy Kambwala became the 248th graduate of United's youth academy, the 19-year-old found himself in the thick of the action amid a central defensive selection crisis that left Erik ten Hag unable to pick Raphael Varane, Harry Maguire and Victor Lindelof due to various conditions.

But that would be a weak excuse as the teenager looked comfortable in his Premier League arc. To be fair, that applied to both defenses after a first half that won't live long in the memory.

Sloppy, reserved – sometimes very ordinary. There was plenty to admire about the intensity of West Ham's play during their opening substitutions, but all without posing an attacking threat.

That was more than could be said for United, who lacked intensity or quality in the first half hour. Their pace was slow; so easy to read.

It took 33 minutes for United to conjure their first effort on target, Antony's tame curling effort from distance that was easily held by Alphonse Areola. And to be fair to the Ten Hag team, they improved in the closing stages of the first half.

Alejandro Garnacho squandered the best chance of the opening 45 minutes with only Areola to beat before the Hammers goalkeeper almost gifted Kobbie Mainoo his first senior goal with some rather suspect work from the youngster's weak shot just before half-time.

The end of halftime at least provided some positivity for Ten Hag, but no more than that. Simon Hooper's half-time whistle heralded a seventh consecutive half of football without a goal for United. That is an unfortunate state of affairs.

Jarrod Bowen scored his eleventh Premier League goal of the season after tapping in from close range

Mohammed Kudus kept his positive form going with a strong finish in the second half

Rasmus Hojlund's agonizing wait for a first goal in the Premier League continued against the Hammers

The traveling support was, as always, in good voice. It must be tiring to keep their spirits up right now. On a more positive note, Kambwala found himself likable in senior football, while fellow teenager Mainoo continued to defy logic in the heart of United's midfield.

West Ham created the first real chance after the restart, with Andre Onana tipping Jarrod Bowen's header over the crossbar after James Ward-Prowse's precise corner in the 56th minute.

Ten Hag introduced Marcus Rashford a minute later, the England international replacing Rasmus Hojland, who has yet to score a Premier League goal since joining from Atalanta for £72m. There is a player in Hojland. But being a centre-forward in this team has become a thankless task.

Kurt Zouma denied Garnacho a certain goal with a last-ditch block from Luke Shaw's threatening low cross to the back post where his Argentine colleague waited in the 70th minute. Little did United know that their world was about to collapse.

Inevitably it was Lucas Paqueta who opened the door. His delicately executed ball into Bowen's path had left United's defense in disarray. There was a degree of fortune attached to Bowen's finish; his initial effort was saved by Onana only for the rebound to cannon the West Ham forward and into the back of the net.

Not that anyone in claret and blue cared about the way the goal was scored. Moyes clenched his fists euphorically.

18-year-old Kobbie Mainoo gave away possession cheaply in the run-up to West Ham's second goal

Erik ten Hag looked stunned at full-time as Man United's problems against West Ham continued

Ten Hag stood there with his hands in his pockets, bewildered. It's an image that has defined their season. No answers. Again. The Hammers' second arrived twelve minutes before time. It is unfair that Mainoo was the cheater.

His mistake that led to Kudus' goal was sloppy, but United's problems go much deeper than a mistake by an 18-year-old boy who once again acquitted himself excellently. But as soon as Mainoo let Evans' pass roll under his foot, United was done for.

Of course it was Paqueta who played the killer pass. What a player the Brazilian is. If he continues in this vein, West Ham should enjoy him while they can. Kudus' finish was flawlessly convincing, leaving Evans for dead before firing back at Onana.

The cameras panned to Mainoo, who cut a forlorn figure. But this last deviation is not his fault. It depends on the seniors – and Ten Hag.