Louis van Gaal pleased with Manchester United defence against West Ham United

Chris Smalling and Mark Noble in action during the FA Cup replay between West Ham United and Manchester United on April 13, 2016
© Getty Images
Louis van Gaal heaps praise on the Manchester United defence after they kept Andy Carroll largely quiet in their FA Cup quarter-final replay victory at West Ham.

Manchester United manager Louis van Gaal has singled out the Red Devils' defence after watching his side overcome West Ham United in tonight's FA Cup quarter-final replay at the Boleyn Ground.

Van Gaal's side hung on for a 2-1 victory in East London, keeping quiet Andy Carroll, who scored a hat-trick against Arsenal on Saturday, for much of the contest.

"We played defensively very well," Van Gaal told BBC Sport. "We didn't give so much away. They lost the ball a lot of times and I believe with a bit more composure we could have finished it much earlier.

"I said at half time we had to show composure in the third and fourth phase. We did that better but I still believe we could have finished the game earlier."

Marcus Rashford curled home the opener from the edge of the area for his sixth Red Devils goal since breaking into the team less than two months ago.

Reflecting on the 18-year-old's finish into the top corner, Van Gaal added: "Yes. I was on the bench behind his shot. I saw the corner of the goal and I thought you have to shoot and he did but it is much more difficult than you think."

United take on Everton at Wembley in the semi-finals in 10 days' time.

David de Gea is loving life during the Premier League game between Manchester United and Stoke on February 2, 2016
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CLeicester CityLeicester382312368363281
2Arsenal382011765362971
3Tottenham HotspurSpurs381913669353470
4Manchester CityMan City381991071413066
5Manchester UnitedMan Utd381991049351466
6Southampton381891159411863
7West Ham UnitedWest Ham381614865511462
8Liverpool3816121063501360
9Stoke CityStoke38149154155-1451
10Chelsea381214125953650
11Everton381114135955447
12Swansea CitySwansea381211154252-1047
13Watford38129174050-1045
14West Bromwich AlbionWest Brom381013153448-1443
15Crystal Palace38119183951-1242
16Bournemouth38119184567-2242
17Sunderland38912174862-1439
RNewcastle UnitedNewcastle38910194465-2137
RNorwich CityNorwich3897223967-2834
RAston Villa3838272776-4917