Manchester United led by Marcus Rashford triumphs over West Ham United.

Marcus Rashford scored his 100th Manchester United goal in a memorable 1-0 home win over West Ham, keeping the club in contention for a top-four finish.

Rashford becomes the first United player to reach the milestone since Wayne Rooney in 2009, and his thundering first-half header aided the club’s consistent progress under Dutch manager Erik ten Hag.

United began the season with back-to-back league losses before being walloped 6-3 by city rivals Manchester City at the beginning of the month.

However, since then, Ten Hag’s side has gone unbeaten in eight matches in all competitions, and they currently sit 5th in the table, one point underneath Newcastle.

West Ham have also had a productive month under former United manager David Moyes, however they were punished for a passive first-half performance and were quashed by the hosts’ tenacious defense when pursuing the game during the second half.

Ten Hag made four adjustments to the starting lineup from the 3-0 Europa League victory over Sheriff on Thursday night.

Harry Maguire made his 1st league start since August, and Ronaldo also began in place of injured Brazil winger Antony.

West Ham returned to their league roster following their midweek Europa League adventures, recalling Declan Rice, Jarrod Bowen, as well as Tomas Soucek.

The Hammers were content with keeping United at bay in the early going, and it wasn’t until the 15th minute that United tested visiting goalkeeper Lukasz Fabianski.

Ronaldo’s 25-yard shot lifted the home crowd, but it was conveniently held, and Rashford then had 2 shots on goal in rapid succession, both of which Fabianski saved.

United gained traction before the break when Rice blocked Luke Shaw’s cutback, and they deserved their breakthrough.

Christian Eriksen linked up with Bruno Fernandes, and the Dane tucked in a superb curling cross that Rashford met with a thundering header.

This was Rashford’s 4th league score of the season as well as his seventh overall.

After the restart, West Ham demonstrated more urgency, with Said Benrahma progressing to cause problems, and Gianluca Scamacca’s first-time effort obstructed by the remarkable Lisandro Martinez.

Scamacca, who avoided a 2nd yellow card for a high foot on Martinez, was replaced by Michail Antonio, but Ronaldo appeared to be the more likely scorer.

The Portuguese steered wide, had a dipping shot refracted for a corner, and witnessed another effort refracted for a corner.

West Ham, on the other hand, proceeded to dedicate more men forward. Soucek fired wide, and Benrahma fired from 25 yards straight at David De Gea.

As the Hammers soared forward, Maguire and Dalot stood firm with a series of definitive clearing headers, and Antonio’s searing drive was magnificently saved by De Gea, who also deflected Kurt Zouma’s header.

United hit the post late on through replacement Fred’s header, but they were also helped by Maguire’s block on Bowen’s close-range effort and then another De Gea save from Declan Rice’s shot.