McTominay: Winning isn't always glamorous

The visitors pushed to find an equaliser after Craig Dawson headed into his own net in the 53rd minute, but the Reds' defence stood firm to record our fourth successive Premier League clean sheet.

Speaking to Sky Sports after the full-time whistle, Scott said: “Obviously, it's really important to win the third tough game in a week shall we say, it wasn’t just a third game in a week, it was a really tough match.

“We know when we played them at home in the cup last time it was difficult. They set up really well, they’ve got good players in their team and they made it tough for us first half and the message at half-time was just keep it the same. Keep trying to play your best tempo you can possibly play, keep working the ball side to side and, eventually, we’ll get an opening and sometimes it is from a set piece – a fortunate one as well.”

It was Scott who challenged for Bruno Fernandes’ driven corner on at the near post, before Dawson turned the ball beyond his own keeper, but he made no attempt to claim it as his own finish.
“I can’t remember the goal, it wasn’t my goal anyway I know that. Sometimes you get a fortunate one like that, we’ve been doing a lot of set-pieces and you can see from the Europa League game the other night, it’s something that we do have to improve on and to see a lucky one go in is fortunate.”

Speaking of the qualities shown in not surrendering the winning position, as has happened on other occasions this campaign, he added: “We've had too many of them this season – Everton, midweek.

“That’s something we do have to [improve on]. There’s no shame in playing against West Ham at home and obviously it being a tough game and doing all the professional things to win a football match, sometimes that’s the way you have to win football games.

“I know it’s not the glamorous way of doing it and not what people want to see, but can’t always win 4-0 or 5-0 at home, that’s not the case. We’re trying to get towards that, but at this moment in time, it’s games like that and midweek you just have to win.”

Until United found the opening, the Hammers were keen to sit back and soak up the pressure and tried to make it as difficult as possible to find an opening.

“It’s tough, it’s not getting frustrated and I thought tonight a lot of the boys were frustrated and that’s why I’m coming off the pitch and it’s not moaning, it’s not shaking your head, it’s not arms up in the air," he said.

“When you’re playing against teams like that, who sit in and do it well, you can’t react like that. You have to play to your tempo, you know, that we play at and really be positive in everything you do and, as I say, we’re trying our best to keep pushing.”