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Moyes praises Rooney as Allardyce claims foul in build-up to 58-yard wonder strike

PUBLISHED: 15:50 EST, 22 March 2014 | UPDATED: 15:50 EST, 22 March 2014

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David Moyes couldn’t restrain himself from heaping deserved plaudits on Wayne Rooney after witnessing one of the best goals ever scored in the Premier League.

Rooney plundered a stunning 58-yard half-volley, a more impressive goal you will not see this season, before following that up with a fortuitous bundled finish to put the game well beyond the Hammers before half-time as they went away from Upton Park with all three points.

The 28-year-old was at his imperious best for the Reds, leading the line expertly, and looking a genuine contender to take the captain’s armband on a permanent basis.

Happy man: Manchester United boss David Moyes heaped praise on Wayne Rooney for his wonder strike

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‘Wayne is a top, top player,’ Moyes beamed, before refusing to compare the wonder strike to David Beckham’s halfway line chip away at Wimbledon in 1996. ‘His awareness to know exactly where the goalkeeper was and execute it and drift the ball in... a great goal.’

Beckham was caught on television cameras smiling at Upton Park as the ball flew in, while Moyes added: ‘It was brilliant technique. We were having a laugh in the dressing room that he’d tried that 20 times and it’s never worked.

‘I wanted it to go straight in but knew it was going to bounce. Thankfully there was a bit of rain and it softened it down.’

Allardyce was upset at what he perceived to be poor refereeing by Lee Mason in the build-up to both goals.

‘I thought it was a blatant foul on James Tomkins (before the first). Rooney has taken him off balance. Technically, the referee has made a big error,’ the West Ham boss said.

Taking aim: Rooney shoots from 57.9 yards as he scores the opening goal against West Ham

Down and out: West Ham goalkeeper Adrian was left on his back as he failed to stop Rooney's long-range shot

Huddle: United players crowd round Rooney as they celebrate his long-range wonder strike

‘Then what might have been a penalty and get to 1-1 we found ourselves two goals down. It went their way today, hugely because of the referee’s help.’

As for Rooney, he appeared freer without having to accommodate Robin van Persie up front, although Moyes wouldn’t go as far as to say that anyone prospered for the Dutchman’s absence.

The manager instead chose to laud the overall team performance. United were accomplished in the way in which they went about strangling the life out of Sam Allardyce’s side - so much so that the second period was a non-event.

Fury: West Ham manager Sam Allardyce was upset as he felt there was foul in the build-up to the goal

Moyes made big calls beforehand, most of all opting for Michael Carrick to play alongside Phil Jones at the heart of defence, but came out smiling.

‘I thought we played very well. The disappointing thing was that we didn’t make more of the chances we created. I was a little bit worried when we missed those opportunities,’ he said.

‘The goal will take centre stage but before we scored we really threatened.

Instructions: Moyes (right) speaks with Rafael and Michael Carrick during the match

‘Earlier in the season people were saying I was changing the team too much. People came in and played really well.’

Moyes claimed the 3-0 dispatch of Olympiacos in the Champions League last-16 bred ‘confidence’ within the camp. This will surely help them further going into Tuesday’s Manchester derby.

‘A lot of them showed what they’re capable of,’ he added. ‘Juan Mata was terrific today. Shinji Kagawa was excellent.

Tip top: Moyes was pleased with Juan Mata's performance at Upton Park as United won 2-0

‘You want a bit of momentum which we haven’t had a lot of. If anything we picked up from our performance in midweek. Players who had opportunities earlier in the season but didn’t quite perform did so today.’

Carrick could yet face Manchester City alongside Jones. After ‘tag teaming’ Andy Carroll with Marouane Fellaini, Carrick may fancy it at Old Trafford in midweek if United can’t get anyone else fit.

‘He made the job look easy. He was terrific,’ Moyes said.

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JA, Cheshire, 10 minutes ago

Allardyce is a joke. His defender misjudged the bounce and then feigned a foul. How ironic that a manager who encourages thuggishness from his teams should complain about a perceived foul.

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MF Ludet, co FBI, 1 hour ago

Last season De Gea was taken out by Carroll. Should have been sent off. Didn't Sam say that it was a robust but fair challenge or words to that effect?

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Stuart Lane, Cardiff, United Kingdom, 2 hours ago

Allardyce your tactics are hoof up to the ponytailed donkey to hope he or Nolan can score after knocking seven bells out of anyone in the way. Just the same tactics you're known for at every club you've been at! Not a foul cant remember when Carroll Superman dived into De Gea last year remember what you said then its had to change direction at that speed. Short memory this man.

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MF Ludet, co FBI, 2 hours ago

Foul my ass

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anthony, stoke, Staffordshire, 3 hours ago

Big Sam moaning again! He needs get his house in order instead of looking for ways to justify his teams mistakes! I am not a utd fan it's just every week west ham loose big Sam moaning about a foul or hand ball or grass was long!!!

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Aguero85, Manchester, United Kingdom, 3 hours ago

Both goals were flukes.

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zoraski, Mumbai, India, 4 hours ago

It wasn't a foul on Tomkins, Mr. Allardyce. Tit for tat. You see how physical West Ham are in their game and that was just a minor push. West ham nowadays all they do is push and shove and long balls to the two tall strikers (which they hardly reach) They are like the new Stoke. It was a beauty of a goal to find the net from so faraway.