BBC Radio 5 Live host Chapman blasts Man Utd flops after spotting damning issue

23 December 2023 , 15:05

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BBC Radio 5 Live host Chapman blasts Man Utd flops after spotting damning issue

BBC Radio 5 Live presenter Mark Chapman couldn't hide his contempt for the way Manchester United's players reacted to conceding the second goal to West Ham in Saturday lunchtime's 2-0 defeat.

United were well beaten at the London Stadium and failed to land much of a blow on their hosts before goals from Jarrod Bowen and Mohammed Kudus in the final 18 minutes secured a deserved win for the Hammers.

The Hammers leap above their visitors with their victory, with the result heaping even more pressure on United boss Erik ten Hag, who has now overseen 13 defeats in all competitions this season, eight of which have come in the Premier League.

Chapman was presenting BBC Radio 5 Live's coverage of the match and was in discussion with pundit Mark Warburton shortly after Kudus had scored the Hammers' second.

Hitting out at United's players, Chapman, a self-confessed United fan, fumed: "I'm just watching the TV pictures of the aftermath, and he took it well did Kudus, but the ball was given away by Kobbie Mainoo, and that can happen to a young player, it just rolled under his foot.

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"He's there biting his shirt, knowing that he’s the one who has made the mistake, and the player that goes up to him to give him a little tap and go 'right, come on' is (Willy) Kambwala, the centre half who is 19 and is making his debut. Not one of the senior players, the young lad who is making his debut!"

Warburton, the former Brentford and Rangers boss, agreed with Chapman that that was a concern, stating that Ten Hag would want his senior players to step up and take more responsibility.

Mark ChapmanMark Chapman couldn't hide his contempt (PA)

Meanwhile, goalscorer Bowen said West Ham are proving that they can aim high after the win, adding that he hopes to see them remain in the top six.

"I think it's hard to say," he told Match of the Day, "We want to be (in the top six), but I think you look at the top 10 and it's probably the most open it's ever been with teams coming in.

"Aston Villa, even they're in the top four, Brighton and Chelsea are top sides. All we can do is win our games but we want to be in that top six minimum, for sure."

Mark Jones