Ole Gunnar Solskjaer Manchester United 2020-21Getty

'Scott used to be a striker' - Solskjaer pleased with 'authority' of Man Utd FA Cup match winner McTominay

Ole Gunnar Solskjaer says he was pleased with the "authority" match-winner Scott McTominay showed in Manchester United's FA Cup victory over West Ham on Tuesday evening.

The Red Devils had their spirits lifted by a 1-0 win over the Hammers in extra time, with midfielder McTominay providing the match's lone goal.

Solskjaer admitted how desperate his side were for a positive result after his side conceded a late equaliser in the league against Everton three days earlier. 

What's been said?

"I felt we dominated," Solskjaer told BBC Sport. "I thought we were in complete control of the first half.

"In the second half it became more of a game. When it's only 1-0 and we are wasteful, anything can happen to us - we knew that from the last game It's just about finishing the game off but we're through. We're in the hat and that's what we wanted.

"I think we got about 15 to 17 shots in the end but we need to be more clinical. We should've finished the game off earlier and finished in 90 minutes but sometimes it doesn't happen.

"We needed to have a good result and a good feeling after today because we were low after Everton game. It's hard to take but they were really focused and did the job.

"Of course you want to win every game. We want to challenge and we want to go to the final. That's what we're here at Man United for. Sometimes you're lucky with draw in the cup - we haven't been that lucky - but obviously we move another step closer to the final."

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On McTominay, he said: "Scott used to be a striker and I think he finishes with authority. You see that he doesn't mind being in those positions. He just smashed the ball into the net."

The bigger picture

United have progressed to the quarter-finals of the FA Cup as they seek their first piece of silverware under Solskjaer and their first major trophy since 2017. The draw for the last eight of the competition takes place on Thursday.

Further reading

Van de Beek again fails to impress for United (Feb 9)

United equal 109-year-old club record (Feb 9)

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