Manchester United nowadays resemble a befuddled group gathered around a dying campfire, desperately fanning it in the hopes an ember will relight the fresh wood thrown on, warming body and soul the way it used to in a not too distant era. There are some signs that United’s The Road dystopia might be lifting. Say what you will, Louis Van Gaal deserves credit for uncovering Marcus Rashford, and like The Boy, the eighteen year old promises a brighter future for the side.

West Ham which just about flatlined Arsenal’s title this weekend were undone by a peach of a goal by Rashford, his sixth in 11 appearances. That strike was the icing as United were by far the better side even before Marouane Fellaini decided to lay the lumber on any chance of a comeback with his most potent weapon, any part of the body except feet. This victory came against the backdrop of their abject surrender against Spurs in the league. Credit to them for the bounce back. The Hammers tried their best to enhance the Boleyn Ground’s historicity, a fitting swan song but James Tomkins’s goal and a frantic last few minutes were to no avail.

United now meet Everton and Louis Van Gaal can look to any further success as some sort of insurance. A certain Portugese gentleman might be juicing his phone to keep himself at beck and call.

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