David Moyes returns to Manchester United for FA Cup clash with West Ham flying high and a point to prove

The Hammers manager, lasted just 51 matches in charge at Old Trafford, believes he was never given enough time to make his mark after replacing the great Alex Ferguson

The banner displayed at Old Trafford by Manchester United fans after David Moyes had been appointed manager on the recommendation of predecessor Alex Ferguson, who retired from football after 26 years in charge of the Red Devils. Getty

United manager David Moyes shows his frustration during a 2-0 Premier League defeat at former club Everton on April 20, 2014. Moyes was sacked two days later. Getty

David Moyes signs autographs for United fans at Old Trafford ahead of their 2-0 Premier League win over Crystal Palace in September 2013. Getty

United manager David Moyes speaks to Wayne Rooney during the 3-1 Premier League victory against West Ham United at Old Trafford in December 2013. Getty

United manager David Moyes alongside Phil Neville during the Uefa Champions League group stage goalless draw at Real Sociedad in November 2013. Getty

United manager David Moyes alongside Wayne Rooney after the 2-1 Premier League defeat at Stoke City in February 2014. Getty

United manager David Moyes talks with Adnan Januzaj during the 3-2 Premier League win over Stoke City at Old Trafford in October 2013. Getty

David Moyes, alongside Liverpool counterpart Brendan Rodgers, during United's 1-0 League Cup victory at Old Trafford in September 2013. Getty

United manager David Moyes, with Bayern Munich counterpart - and future Manchester City boss - Pep Guardiola celebrating in the background. The Germans won the Champions League quarter-final second-leg 3-1 at the at the Allianz Arena, in April 2014, to complete a 4-2 victory on aggregate. Getty

David Moyes applauds the fans after United thrashed Bayer Leverkusen 5-0 in Germany during the Champions League group stage in November 2013. Getty

David Moyes during United's 1-0 Premier League win at Norwich City in December 2013. Getty

David Moyes celebrates after United's 1-0 Premier League victory over Arsenal at Old Trafford in November 2013. Getty

David Moyes talks with Wayne Rooney during the 3-2 Premier League win over Stoke City at Old Trafford in October 2013. Getty

David Moyes watches from the touchline during the pre-season friendly game in Japan against Yokohama F. Marinos in July 2013. Getty

David Moyes alongside Chelsea counterpart - and future United manager - Jose Mourinho during United's goalless draw in the Premier League in August 2013. Getty

An empty Old Trafford may be a kinder arena than a full one for visiting teams. But for David Moyes, it will always be inhabited by noisy ghosts.

Moyes, who takes his West Ham to Manchester United in the FA Cup on Tuesday, was once upon a time serenaded by a 1.5m image of his face, next to the words "The Chosen One" on a banner stretched across the Stretford End. No trip to the workplace where he held his biggest job can ever feel routine.

Moyes was United’s manager for 51 matches, up until April 2014, fewer than any United boss – caretakers apart – since the early 1930s. It still preys on him that so little of his six-year contract, signed when he was identified as the successor to Alex Ferguson, was honoured.

On Monday, he drew pointed attention to how long the current United manager, Ole Gunnar Solskjaer, has had to construct a team and develop a strategy. “Given the time he has been given,” said Moyes, “Ole is doing well to mould an exciting young team. I think they are building a nice team.” And, as if for emphasis, he added: “The time he has been given has allowed him to do that.”

For the record, Solskjaer and Moyes’s first 50 matches as United manager are a mirror of each other: Moyes won 26 and lost 14 before being sacked after a defeat to Everton; Solskjaer won 24 times and lost 14 to bring up his half century. The Norwegian’s reward was a different level of patience. Tonight will be his 126th game in charge.

Other employers stopped being so generous with the time they offered, once Moyes, 57, had been deemed the wrong fit at Old Trafford.

He became a short-stayer: A year at Real Sociedad; a season, which ended in relegation, at Sunderland; a mere six-month contract when he was first asked to rescue West Ham in the autumn of 2017. They were in the Premier League’s relegation zone. Moyes had them clear of it before Christmas and 13th at the end of the season, when the club thanked him but still said farewell.

The return of Moyes to East London, on an 18-month deal from December 2018, was an admission by West Ham that his rigour, his clarity about the right balance of a side and his intimate knowledge of the Premier League – where he first managed, at Everton, nearly 19 years ago – were better suited to the club than had been acknowledged.

He came back and again performed his firefighter role, lifting the club clear of the threat of relegation last season.

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West Ham 1 Manchester United 3: player ratings

WEST HAM RATINGS: Lukas Fabianski - 7: Not huge amount to do in first half until saving well from Martial just before break. No chance with ruthless United finishes. EPA

Fabian Balbuena - 6: Showed excellent anticipation to break up United attacks and carried the ball out from defence well in first half. Vital tackle deflected Rashford shot wide just before hour mark. Like rest of defence, struggled to cope with United’s attack in second half. Getty

Angelo Ogbonna - 6: Part of Hammers backline that barely gave Cavani, Martial and Greenwood a kick in first half. But was easily beaten by Greenwood as United attacker set-up Pogba's crucial opening goal. Left for dead again three minutes later as same player produced sublime touch and finish to make it 2-1. EPA

Aaron Cresswell - 7: Always a willing runner down the right with one lung-bursting 60-metre sprint in first half that Masuaku decided to ignore. Lovely free-kick late on well saved by Henderson. AFP

Vladimir Coufal - 6: Flashed ball across box just after break, when he should really have went for goal himself, that Bowen couldn’t turn in on the stretch. Found Rashford's pace too hot to handle when United substitute came on. Getty

Declan Rice - 7: Breaks down play and distributes so well in the centre of the park. Lovely flick-on header that was heading for the net until poached on line by Soucek. Fantastic determination to chase down and tackle Rashford in full-flow with 15 minutes to go. Long-range effort easily saved by Henderson as Hammers chased game. Reuters

Tomas Soucek - 7: Could have earned early booking for crunching tackle on McTominay. Tapped home from a couple of centimetres after Rice header to open scoring for his second league goal of season. PA

Arthur Masuaku - 6: Good cross from left into box after 15 minutes was wasted by Haller. Failed to take advantage of a couple of excellent Cresswell overlaps. Didn’t offer enough of a threat down left. AFP

Jarrod Bowen - 8: Brilliant first half. Cut in from right in first couple of minutes and his deflected shot almost set-up Fornals with quickfire opener. Finished confidently after being put through a few minutes later but was rightly ruled offside. Scintillating wingplay down right to skin Telles followed by excellent ball into middle that Fornals could only head into side netting. Could, and probably should, have made it 2-0 just after half-time but couldn’t finish on the stretch. Ran out of steam in second 45. EPA

Pablo Fornals - 7: Denied by Henderson with first chance of game. If he’d found Bowen with through ball after 20 minutes, teammate would have been one-on-one with Henderson. Could only head into side netting after great Bowen cross on half-hour mark then prodded shot against post minutes later. PA

Sebastien Haller - 6: His pass on the stretch set up Fornals for chance that Spaniard hit against post in first half. Lovely touch followed by cross from left to Bowen on other side of penalty area. Deserved a goal when he rounded Henderson, cut back onto his right foot only to lose his footing and fall over. Disappeared in second half. Reuters

Said Benrahma - (On for Fornals 75’) 7: Looked sharp when he came on and curled one delicate chip just over bar with 10 minutes left. AFP

Manuel Lanzini - (On for Bowen 76’) N/A. AFP

Ben Johnson - (On for Coufal 85’) N/A

Dean Henderson - 7: First Premier League start and a ropey first half where United struggled to defend corners. Fine, if controversial, pass down the line led to Pogba’s equaliser. Getty

Aaron Wan-Bissaka - 6: Smart pass in United’s first proper attack after 18 minutes. Superb recovery tackle in second half where he showed pace not seen in the stadium since Usain Bolt won gold. Still needs to cross better. Getty

Victor Lindelof - 6: Struggled like the rest in first half as West Ham surged forward on the counter attack, but far better in the second in another confusing, captivating performance. EPA

Harry Maguire - 6: As slow as the rest in the first half. With his forwards not doing it, desperately tried for an equaliser. It would come from those forwards in the end. PA

Alex Telles - 5: Poor awareness, outclassed by Bowen and his worse game so far in a United shirt. More involved as team surged forward. Getty

Donny van de Beek - 4: Struggled to compete with Rice. Club felt he’d take time to settled physically in Premier League. That was clear at West Ham. Subbed at half time – though any of the outfield players could’ve been. Reuters

Scott McTominay - 6: Poor first half in a midfield three which hadn’t played together before. Shot wide after positive move in second and better with Bruno. Weren’t they all? Getty

Paul Pogba - 6: First start in over a month, except he didn't start playing until his 66th minute goal – a curling world class finish. Loose in possession and as anonymous as the rest until he scored. Different player afterwards. AFP

Mason Greenwood - 6: Limited contribution but then outstanding first touch and powerful finish to put United ahead – and get his first PL goal of the season. Youngest player to reach 20 United goals since Norman Whiteside. Wasted a late chance. He can be forgiven. EPA

Anthony Martial - 4: Shot before half time United’s best moment of first half. But did nothing on his 25th birthday and went off injured. Getty

Edinson Cavani - 5: Better movement than the other players, but no service to find him. Taken off at half time with an injury. PA

SUBS: Marcus Rashford - (On for Cavani 46’) 8: Struck post when he should have made it 3-1, but then dinked in a lovely 77th minute third. Four shots on target, constantly running at West Ham. Made a huge difference. Getty

Bruno Fernandes - (On for Van de Beek 46’) 8: The team’s best player, he made a huge impact with his presence, passing and vision. Set up Pogba to put United ahead. AFP

Juan Mata - (On for Martial 62’) 6: Neat interplay, played his part and more effective than the man he replaced. Perfect pass for Rashford goal. Getty

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The consolidation since has been spectacular: last month West Ham recorded their best opening half of a league season since the mid-1980s. Were it not for the last 25 minutes of United's match at West Ham in December – when a 1-0 home lead turned into a 3-1 away win – Moyes's club and Solkjaer's would now be joined on 42 points each.

That head-to-head left Moyes angry. The long pass that led to United’s equaliser, launched by United goalkeeper Dean Henderson had curled out of play, in his view, before dropping inside the touchline. Moyes felt the assistant referee should have raised a flag.

He seldom conceals his ire when he sees a poor refereeing decision. He detected another on Saturday, at the end of the goalless draw at Fulham, when Tomas Soucek, his leading scorer this season and chief beneficiary of the array of set-piece drills that West Ham have cultivated under Moyes, was sent off.

The red card heard on Monday that the red card has been overturned on appeal and Soucek has avoided suspension.

“This is a really big game for us, against an in-form team,” said Moyes. He seeks improvement on what he called “a poor performance” at Fulham and to recover their recent momentum.

West Ham, a squad with limited options at centre-forward and a net spend of just over £6 million ($8.2m) in the last two transfer windows, are punching above their weight. Since losing to United two months ago, they have recorded just two defeats in 14, and, in the Premier League, are a point off fourth spot.

“We have another step to go,” says Moyes, “but I have seen levels of performance recently that show we can keep getting better.”