A day to forget for Hammers defender Tomas Repka saw them slip to defeat at Old Trafford.

The Czech international had a hand in the first two United goals, separated by barely a minute early in the first half, before Sebastien Schemmel's own goal rounded off a miserable afternoon for the Premiership's bottom club.

And while questions will be asked about Jermain Defoe's disallowed goal just before half time, the home side's class as they briefly moved level with league leaders Arsenal was always enough for them to win while playing in cruise control.

Within 30 seconds a fluent passing move involving Juan SebastianVeron, Paul Scholes and Ryan Giggs sent Ruud van Nistelrooy through on goal, and the only surprise about Ole Gunnar Solksjaer's 15th-minute opener was that it took so long.

But when Gary Neville crossed from the right the Norwegian's glancing header deflected off the bemused Repka and deceived David James.

Moments later Repka was seeing yellow for a needless foul on van Nistelrooy, and Veron exacted full punishment.

His superb 30-yard free kick cleared the big Hammers wall and flew into the top left hand corner, ending the game as a contest.

Only Michael Carrick, with another assured performance, rose above the ordinary as Glenn Roeder's men looked hard to find a way into the game.

But they could have been back in it after 43 minutes when Defoe lashed a loose ball into the roof of the net.

A Steve Lomas cross produced a scrambled clearance in the United box, which rebounded off Scott Minto into Defoe's path and it appeared that O'Shea was level with the young striker as the linesman flagged him offside.

More intelligent passing saw Gary Neville break down the right, and his 61st minute cross was turned home by Schemmel under pressure from van Nistelrooy.

Published Monday, December 16, 2002

Brought to you by the Evening Echo