After a tough start to the month, Manchester United are back on track thanks to a 1-0 win over West Ham.
This was another tight game at Old Trafford, in which the close calls went in our favour. In the loss to Wolves, Bruno Fernandes hit the post, before the visitors scored a winner.
Against West Ham, Tomas Soucek missed a close range header from a corner, moments before Marcus Rashford went onto score the decisive goal.
United had more control of this game, a lot more, but it still came down to these critical moments, and this time they went our way.
The victory lifted United up into fourth place in the Premier League table, and suddenly everybody feels a lot more positive.
Capitalise on feelgood factor
A week ago after dropping more points away at Aston Villa, a top four place was beginning to look like a long shot. Consecutive wins against Brentford and West Ham have steadied the ship and brought United back on track.
There are still 16 more Premier League games remaining for United to play, and many of them will come down to close games decided by single moments.
United need to do more, to win games convincingly, and to increase control in matches. This is where it is important to push ahead during the final week of the transfer window and bring in a defensive midfielder.
Scott McTominay has been holding United’s midfielder in the last two matches, and he has done well. But there is a distinct lack of cover, with Nemanja Matic the next option, and he is well past his best.
United need to try to bring in a defensive midfielder during the next week, and there are a couple of names the club could bring in on the cheap. Denis Zakaria is available from Borussia Moenchengladbach, and Boubacar Kamara could be signed from Marseille. Both players will be free agents in the summer, making their clubs more open to cashing in now.
Getting in an extra midfielder now would give everybody connected with the club a huge lift, at a time when confidence and enjoyment is beginning to grow. The back to back wins have brought much-needed positivity to the club, and United could send the feelgood factor through the roof with a late deal for a midfielder.
Top four is on
On the pitch, this could be enough to seal a top four place. United are in a good position after decent weekend results all round.
The win moved United above West Ham, with a game in hand. Arsenal failed to beat Burnley and weakened their own position in the process.
Tottenham finally dropped points, losing to Chelsea, with the cracks in Antonio Conte’s side exposed in the defeat.
Chelsea may have won, but United have two games in hand and can close the gap on the third placed side to three points with wins.
A top three finish is still very much in United’s grasp (although we would take fourth right now), and the chance of qualifying for next season’s Champions League is in our own hands.
This is why it is crucial United invest now. A move for a defensive midfielder could help seal a top four place, and also benefit the team in the FA Cup and this season’s Champions League.
Ralf Rangnick and the players have done their bit over the past two weeks. Now it is up to the board to do theirs before the transfer deadline expires.
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